Page 169 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

QUIRINAL  167

a Sant’Agata
dei Goti
Via Mazzarino 16 and Via Panisperna
29. Map 5 B4. Tel 06-4893 0456.
@ 40, 60, 64, 70, 71, 117, 170.
Open 7am–1pm & 4–7pm daily.
5 7
The Goths (Goti) who gave
their name to this church
occupied Rome in the 6th
century AD. They were Aryan
heretics who denied the
divinity of Christ. The church
was founded between AD 462
and 470, shortly before the
main Gothic invasions, and
the beautiful granite columns
date from this period. The main
altar has a well-preserved
12th-century Cosmatesque
tabernacle, but the most
delightful part of the church
is the charming 18th-century
courtyard built around an
ivy-draped well.

s Villa 18th-century courtyard of Sant’Agata dei Goti
Aldobrandini
Via Mazzarino. Steps lead up past may also have designed the
Via Panisperna. Entrance to gardens:
Via Mazzarino 1. Map 5 B4. 2nd-century AD ruins into the sculpture of Mary Magdalene
@ 40, 60, 64, 70, 71, 117, 170. gardens, highly recommended meeting the risen Christ in the
Gardens: Open dawn–dusk daily. as an oasis of tranquillity in the Garden of Gethsemane. This fine
Villa: Closed to the public. center of the city. Gravel paths marble group was executed by
lead between formal lawns Antonio Raggi (1649). Above
Built in the 16th century for and clearly marked specimen the altar is a 15th-century
the Dukes of Urbino and trees, and benches are provided terracotta plaque of the Virgin
acquired for his family by Pope for the weary. Since the garden and Child. On the left, over a
Clement VIII Aldobrandini is raised some 30 ft (10 m) side altar, is a large painting
(reigned 1592–1605), the villa above street level, the views of the Madonna from the
is now government property are excellent. same period, attributed to
and houses an international Benozzo Gozzoli (1420–97),
law library. d Santi Domenico a pupil of Fra Angelico.
The villa itself, decorated with
the family’s six-starred coat of e Sisto
arms, is closed to the public, but Largo Angelicum 1. Map 5 B4.
the gardens and terraces, hidden Tel 06-670 2201. @ 40, 60, 64, 70, 71
behind a high wall that runs 117, 170. Open 3–6pm Sat.
along Via Nazionale, can be
reached through an iron gate in The church has a tall, slender
Baroque facade rising above a
steep flight of steps. This divides
into two curving flights that
sweep up to the terrace in front
of the entrance. The pediment
of the facade is crowned by
eight flaming candlesticks.
The interior has a vaulted
ceiling with a large fresco of
The Apotheosis of St. Dominic
by Domenico Canuti (1620–84).
The first chapel on the right
The imposing facade of Villa Aldobrandini was decorated by Bernini, who Chapel in Santi Domenico e Sisto

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