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The Collegiate Church of St Mary of the Assumption: Bernini's Round Pantheon in the Heart of Ariccia
The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta stands in the centre of Ariccia, overlooking Piazza di Corte. This is no ordinary church. It is the last great project of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Here, his entire architectural vision was fully encapsulated. Commissioned by Pope Alexander VII, its circular form is a direct homage to the Pantheon in Rome, yet the building’s soul is Baroque.
The Perfection of the Circle and the Light
Upon entering, the space opens up into a single circular hall. Light pours in from above, just as in the Roman model. But here the eye is drawn to the dome, where sixteen stucco angels by Antonio Raggi, a pupil of the master, seem to be playing among garlands and coffers. The focal point remains the frescoed apse depicting the Assumption into Heaven, painted by Borgognone.
A Total Vision, Inside and Out
The church is not a standalone building. Bernini conceived it as the fulcrum of the entire square, linking it to the two buildings by its side, the Casino del Governatore (Governor’s Lodge) and the Casino del Ministro (Minister’s Lodge). Inside, the chapels house works by painters such as Ludovico Gimignani and Bernardino Mei. The organ was a later addition, commissioned by Prince Agostino Chigi in 1753.
