Kirk B.
Google
The Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome is a stunning and historically rich church that my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting. Built in the late 15th century on the site of a feared tomb of Emperor Nero—where legend held his spirit lingered—it was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV to exorcise the area and replace the haunted tree with a sacred structure.
The basilica is a treasure trove of Renaissance and Baroque art, most notably housing two Caravaggio masterpieces: The Conversion of Saint Paul and The Crucifixion of Saint Peter, both displayed in the Cerasi Chapel. The church also features works by Raphael, Bernini, Pinturicchio, and Bramante, making it an extraordinary display of artistic genius. Among its sacred relics are bones of several martyrs, including Saint Valerian and Saint Maximus, as well as a fragment of the Holy Cross.
The interior chapels are each unique and richly adorned, particularly the Chigi Chapel, designed by Raphael and later completed by Bernini. A visit to this basilica is both spiritually and artistically rewarding, offering a window into centuries of Roman devotion and creativity.