Basilica di Sant'Andrea della Valle is a Baroque church on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Rome, known for its vast dome and richly decorated interior. Look up to see Giovanni Lanfranco’s dome frescoes, then follow the scenes from St. Andrew’s life by Domenichino around the apse. Large mirrors on the floor let you view the ceiling without craning your neck. The basilica is often quieter than Rome’s best-known churches, giving you more room to take in its paintings, marble details and chapels.
A Baroque church shaped by the Theatines
Construction began in the late 16th century under the Theatine religious order. The church’s design developed through the work of several architects, including Giacomo della Porta and Carlo Maderno. Its scale and decoration place it among Rome’s significant early Baroque buildings.
Maderno designed the dome, which is the second-highest in Rome after the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Carlo Rainaldi completed the façade. The different stages of the project give the church a history shaped by several generations of architects.
Frescoes around the dome and apse
Giovanni Lanfranco painted the frescoes inside the dome, while Domenichino’s work includes scenes from the life of St. Andrew in the apse. Together, these paintings draw attention upward from the nave toward the dome and the church’s dedication to the apostle.
Above the main altar, paintings by Mattia Preti depict the martyrdom of St. Andrew. A white stucco sculpture by Antonio Raggi shows the saint ascending toward heaven. The marble decoration and chapels add detail throughout the interior.
Tombs and viewing mirrors
The basilica contains the funerary monuments and remains of Pope Pius II and Pope Pius III. Their Renaissance monuments were originally in Old St. Peter’s Basilica before being moved to Sant’Andrea della Valle.
Large mirrors placed on the floor reflect the ceiling and dome frescoes. They let you study the paintings without holding your gaze overhead. Take a moment to look down at the mirrors as well as up at the artwork.
The church and Puccini’s Tosca
Sant’Andrea della Valle is also linked to Puccini’s opera Tosca, which uses the church as a setting. That connection sits alongside the basilica’s religious history and its role as the mother church of the Theatine order.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Sant'Andrea della Valle?
The basilica is on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Rome.
What is special about the dome?
It is the second-highest dome in Rome, after St. Peter’s Basilica. Giovanni Lanfranco painted its frescoes.
Which artworks should I look for inside?
Look for Lanfranco’s dome frescoes, Domenichino’s scenes from the life of St. Andrew, Mattia Preti’s paintings above the main altar and Antonio Raggi’s stucco sculpture.
Are there tombs inside the basilica?
Yes. The church holds the funerary monuments and remains of Pope Pius II and Pope Pius III.
