This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
Church of Santa Maria del Trivio: designed by great architects
Situated in the central Piazza Cairoli, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo (St Mary of the Assumption), popularly known as "Santa Maria del Trivio", has a complex and prestigious history, marked by the involvement of great architects.
Its origins are ancient, predating the construction of the bell tower, though the precise date of its foundation is not known. The building we admire today is the result of an ambitious reconstruction project, made necessary by the dire state of the original building. Work began in 1622 under the guidance of architect Carlo Maderno, and was completed much later, in 1759, by Carlo Murena.
The building features a Latin cross floor plan, and is crowned by a dome. Inside, significant works of art are preserved: the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" adorns the high altar, a painting executed by Sienese artist Giovanni Sorbi in the first half of the 18th century. The first chapel on the left houses a painting by Sebastiano Conca depicting the Madonna and Saints.
The history of the church has also been marked by the bombings of the last war, which caused the destruction of the apse and the central nave.
