Saturday, January 9, 2016

Santi Giovanni e Petronio dei Bolognesi

where: Via del Mascherone, 61
getting there: from Via Giulia turn left onto Via del Mascherone
open: unavailable

Santi Giovanni e Petronio dei Bolognesi is a small church from the 16th century. It is situated in the ivy-covered street on Via del Mascherone that leads from Via Giulia and down towards Piazza Farnese.
The church is dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Petronius, the 5th century bishop and patron saint of Bologna.
The church was built in 1581 and belonged to the confraternity of Bologna. Most of the artists whose work was commissioned for the church were also citizens of Bologna who were working in Rome.
The church once held the large altarpiece of the Mother and Child with Saints Giovanni e Petronius by Domenichino which was commissioned for the church in 1625, but during the French occupation of Rome many artworks and altarpieces were taken from the church. In 1953 the painting was returned to Rome and is now in the Galleria Barberini. 
Inside the church are the pendentive frescoes and dome by Pompeo Aldrovandini and an altarpiece in the chapel of Saint John depicting the death of Saint Joseph by Francesco Gessi.
The copy of Domenichino's altarpiece in the sacristy is by an unknown artist.
The church was deconsecrated in 1810 and turned into a warehouse but later restored as a church again in 1873.

Helpful Hints

Getting Around

I found walking Rome was the best way to see everything.

The metro, trams and buses are also an easy and cheap option.

Buses and the metro can get crowded. Tickets must be bought before boarding and validated.

Beware of pickpockets.

Buses 40 (express) and 64 start at Termini and end near Saint Peter's, traveling past places of interest, returning the same way.


Some stops along the 64 route are:

Repubblica

Piazza Venezia

Via Nazionale

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II


Bus 75 takes you past the Colosseum to Trastevere

Bus 910 takes you to Villa Borghese


Ticket Options

€1.50 B.I.T (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo) is the standard ticket valid for one metro, unlimited tram or bus rides within 100 minutes.


€7.00 B.I.G ( Biglietto Integrato a Giornaliero) is a daily ticket valid for unlimited metro, tram, bus and train travel within Rome.


Purchasing Bus and Metro tickets.

Newsstands, train stations, metro stations, kiosks with the ATAC logo and tabacchi shops sell tickets for the metro, trams and buses.

Large fines apply to travelers not holding or validating their ticket. Tickets once validated start from the time they have been stamped.






These are a few of my favourite books about Rome

The Cardinal's Hat by Mary Hollingsworth
This book tells the story of one of the sons of Lucrezia Borgia who became a cardinal during the 16th century.

The Tigress of Forli by Elizabeth Lev
I love this book telling the story of Caterina Sforza who was fighting against the Borgia pope to retain the rights of her land and her freedom.

The Popes by John Julius Norwich
A detailed but easy and enjoyable book to read about the history of the papacy and the popes.

The Pope's Daughter by Caroline P Murphy
This book describes in beautiful detail, the life and times of Pope Julius II daughter, Felice della Rovere.

The Families Who Made Rome by Anthony Majanlahti
I love this Book! It explains the families who made Rome what it is as we see it today and also looks at their triumphs, scandals and failures.

Rome by Robert Hughes
This book explains Rome from its beginning and expands on the Renaissance and Baroque until present times.

The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Another of my favourite reads about a lost Caravaggio painting and the search for its provenance.





other sites I trust for information on Rome are:
Rome Art Lover
Churches of Rome wiki