Description

This church which occupies a corner of the famous Piazza di Fontana di Trevi, was built on the wish of the French cardinal Mazzarino in the second half of the 17th Century. It is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Rome. The façade, with its beautiful columns, is a baroque masterpiece. The interior has a main altar in alabaster and the crypt contains papal praecordials - a part of the heart traditionally removed from popes prior to the embalming process. This custom, which started at the end of the 16th Century, came about due to the church's proximity to the Quirinal Palace, which was a papal residence for many years.