San Francesco a Ripa
Well worth the trip to Trastevere, St Francesco a Ripa contains is a masterpiece, Blessed Ludovica Albertoni by Bernini dated 1671 - 1675. This is similar to Bernini's St Teresa in S Maria della Vittoria which shows a saint in a state of religious ecstasy. S Teresa is probably a superior work (the chapel is certainly a dramatic and intriguing piece of work), but this one is also beautiful.
Trastevere churches
It's a short walk to St Maria dell'Orta, a curious church with obelisks scattered over pediment. Not well signed so hard to know what I was seeing but some fine paintings in it .. one El Greco type.
S Maria dell Luce, not much in architecture terms but this is the Latin American church and it had lots of colourful dolls on the altars. Feels like a place that is loved.
S Cecilia in Trastevere, impressively set back behind gardens, vast internal space with a beautiful canopy over the tomb of S Cecilia. The piece has a whiteness which is striking .. beautiful as the Pieta. But the side chapels are grilled and dark, so the feeling is more of a museum than a church.
S. Maria in Trastevere is located on a beautiful piazza which seems to be the hub for the community. This is where I encountered crowds for the first time. Beautiful mosaics and a grand space make this church special ; it is also siad to be one of the oldest in Rome.
Photo gallery
If the photo to the right does not lead you to a slideshow, click here to go to the album.
The fine print
Date of travel : March 2009
Eating was part of the treat See my friend Helen's restaurant reviews on Virginiae, Vecchio Locanda, Mattricianello, Trattoria de Gli Amici.