For visitors who love looking at gorgeous architecture, this is the perfect stop! The Chiesa Santa Maria Addolorata Church has high ceilings, a tall tower, and beautiful artwork on the inside. The colors and architecture will bring visitors in, but the amazing things waiting on the inside will keep them looking for hours.
Where The Chiesa Santa Maria Addolorata Church Is Located
This church is located in Rome at Piazza Bueno Aires. The church is an unmissable sight on Viale Regina Margherita 81, with the two stories leaning over Rome and the beautiful artwork looking out over the city. There is a bus stop with bus line 63 that stops here, which is a great access point for tourists.
What To Expect When Visiting Chiesa Santa Maria Addolorata
When visitors walk up to the church they will see it’s a two-story building in ancient Christian architecture. The campanile is seven stories tall and was built at the same time as the church. The outside is covered in religious artwork, including a depiction of the Lamb and four Evangelicalists. These immediately wow the visitors as they start walking up because of the bright colors and amazing details.
Walking into the inside is like walking into a grand hall. There is artwork everywhere inside, with even the floor being covered in artistic geometric patterns. There is a large mosaic in the apse and small statues at altars. The altar is covered in Baldacchino that is supported by granite columns and decorated with onyx. There is an altar white ring of marble that separates the nave from where the choir sits. The church is so beautifully covered in colors and stone that it wows anyone who walks in.
Time And Cost Of Visiting The Church
With this church being so large and full of art and history, it takes a while for visitors to go through. There are also regularly scheduled masses, so visitors have to decide whether to visit around those masses or go to mass to experience it in a completely different church.
- Time: 7am-8pm daily
- Cost: Free
The church is free to walk through, but visitors do need to be mindful of when they are walking through the church and make sure they do not interrupt any services going on. Most tourists recommend having at least 2-3 hours to walk through the church and admire the artwork, not including any extra time from festivities or services that visitors may want to also go to.
History Of The Chiesa Santa Maria Addolorata Church
With an older church comes a lot of rich history. The church was founded in 1910 by Argentine priest Msgr. José Gallardo. The building was constructed with donations from families in the area. Construction on the church took 20 years, with it being inaugurated in 1930.
While there was some delay in construction due to World War I, in 1915 the future edifice was declared the National Church of Argentina. By 1924 Mass could be celebrated in the building despite it being unfinished. After it was finished, the church was once served by the Mercedarian fathers until 1989, when it started to be served by an Argentine diocesan clergy from an adjoining community house.
Artwork Inside The Church
When visitors walk up and into the church, the first things that draw their attention are the architecture and the artwork. The architecture is impressive, but the artwork is what makes the building stand out. There are several religious depictions in and on the building, such as:
- Mosaic of Our Lady of Sorrows
- Depiction of four palms, symbolizing paradise
- Statue of Our Lady of Luján
- Statue of Blessed José Gabriel Brochero
- Symbols of four Evangelists
These are just some of the pieces of art that are around and in the church. There are a lot more that people might not even consider art, such as the tiles on the floor that were made to depict the Argentina coat of arms. The artwork inside the church will keep visitors occupied for hours.
Festivals And Masses
The church has mass every day of the week, at least twice a day. This is something important for visitors to know because they need to plan around mass or choose a time to go when mass is happening. Some of the times that mass happens include:
- Weekdays: 7:30am, 12:30pm, 7pm
- Saturdays: 7:30am, 6:30pm
- Sundays: 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 6:30pm
On the first Sunday of every month, Mass is held in Spanish. But it is also held on other days, just very irregularly. There are also special festivals celebrated by the church a few days of the year. These festivals include:
- Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows: September 15 and February 15
- Our Lady of Luján: May 8
These festivals are annual, and visitors need to plan accordingly for these festivals, whether it is to join in or go at different times than the festivals.
For tourists who want a gorgeous spot to roam for a few hours, this is the place! Visitors will be welcomed by colorful artwork and amazing statues. The stones and ornate decorations will wow everyone who walks through those doors, and the amazing architecture is impressive to those who set their eyes on this unforgettable destination!