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Church of Our Lady of Grace in Casal Boccone: the postmodern acropolis of northern Rome
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is located in Casal Boccone, in the northeastern outskirts of Rome, along Via della Bufalotta. The complex stands out from the surrounding apartment buildings like a small modern-day acropolis, with staggered white volumes, a bell tower marking the entrance, and an internal courtyard that is open to the surrounding landscape.
From a home chapel to a titular church
The parish’s history began in the 1960s when a group of Dominican Fathers set up a chapel in a private home. The parish was officially established in 1985. For 25 years, the faithful gathered in a prefabricated structure until the new church was completed in 2010. On December 7, 2024, Pope Francis elevated it to a titular church.
The Garofalo Miura project
Designed by Roman firm Garofalo Miura, the complex was built between 2006 and 2010. The liturgical hall features a rectangular floor plan and a sloping roof that folds inwards. Four skylights mark key areas: the chapel with a historic painting of the Virgin Mary, the weekday chapel, the nave, and the crucifix detached from the wall. On December 11, 2011, Benedict XVI visited the parish on a pastoral mission.
