Sant Agnese in Agone Church Rome

Sant Agnese in Agone Church Rome

Sant'Agnese in Agone Church - Piazza Navona, Rome

Sant' Agnese in Agone Church is found opposite to the Piazza Navona fountain. Four

different architects put their hands on it to make it look the way we see the church

today. In 1652, Pope Innocent 10th authorized Girolamo Rainaldi to start a project for

the church. Starting in 1653 the famous architect Borromini designed the façade,

which were adorned with columns and the two bell towers and finally Carlo Rainaldi,

Girolamo Rainaldis son, gave the final touch to it! Later, Bernini was asked to take over and give his magic touch to the church.

: The Sant’ Agnese in Agone Church has one of the most colorful marble floors

: The interior of the church is attributed to Bernini’s students; it has many wonderful gold bladed statues, gilded stucco, frescoes, and marble altarpieces

: The dome has many windows around it and rich frescoes showing various holy scenes

The interior of the church is attributed to Bernini’s students; it has many wonderful

gold bladed statues, gilded stucco, frescoes, and marble altarpieces.

The name “in agone” comes from Piazza Navona which was named like this originally

referring to the games it used to hold. The church is built on the spot where Saint

Agnes was killed. The story goes as the following: Agnes was a very young beautiful

13 year old roman girl from a noble family. Even though her parents were pagan, she

had a Greek Christian slave as a nanny. She refused Procop, the Govenors son, who

had tried to win her over with rich gifts and wanted her to marry her. Agnes kept on

saying “Jesus is my only spouse”. He got very angry and accused Agnes of being a

Christian. Those days Christians were prosecuted and he was sentenced to death by

being burnt at the stake but the wood that was supposed to burn her would not ignite,

so a soldier simply cut off her head.

Thanks to the connections they had to Pope Innocent 10th, which was a family

member, the Pamphili family, who lived in the building next door, had an opening

through their building that would have a direct view inside the church, so it was

possible for them to take part in religious services without having to leave their house.

The church was their family chapel!