Sant'Ambrogio della Massima

(Click on any photo to see a larger version)

1c741236 1a753987 1k458745 1n471254 1f936475 2a456753

Nave
2f412852 2e824675 2d789321 2g451326 2c468219 2b356974

Sanctuary
4a428619 4d193647 4c195382 4b714682

Sacristy
11b79462 11c14685 11d85971 11e45873 11a45821

(To see photos of the chapels on the left side click here)

(To see photos of the chapels on the right side click here)

Sant'Ambrogio della Massima is a 17th century monastic church in in the rione Sant'Angelo.. The dedication to St Ambrose, the 4th century Archbishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church.

For reference, a plan of the church is available here.

History

According to tradition, the monastery and church had their origins in a house occupied by St Marcellina, the older sister of St Ambrose, which was transformed by her into a convent in 353. The first documentary reference is in the Liber Pontificalis of 803, which mentions a donation to the Monasterium Sanctae Mariae, nomine Ambrosii or "The monastery of St Mary, called 'of Ambrose'".

The present church, in which remains of the older church are incorporated, was built between 1606 and 1634 by Orazio Torriani, to the design of Carlo Maderno. The façade collapsed in 1862 and was rebuilt to a design by Giacomo Monaldi. In 1863 he oversaw a major re-ordering of the church, changing the nuns' choir into a sacristy and providing a gallery over the present entrance. The monastery was built to a design by Giovanni Battista Mola, 1637.

Since 1861 the monastery has been the headquarters of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation of Benedictines.

Related Links: Roman Churches Wiki
Wikipedia
"Hidden Churches of Rome" web-page

Location: 41° 53' 35"N 12° 28' 41"E

Detailed information and description

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions or corrections, please contact me here
Copyright Skip Conde 2012-2023