Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli

San Giacomo degli Spagnoli was erected in 1450 on the site of an earlier church. By 1506 it was the location of two hospices for Spanish pilgrims and the national church of the Crown of Castile in Rome. Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli was founded in 1506 when the Brotherhood of the Virgin of Montserrat in Catalonia built a hospice for Spanish pilgrims. It served as the national church and hospital for the Aragonese community in Rome. When Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli was completed in the 17th century, the focus of the community shifted to that church. San Giacomo degli Spagnoli was in poor repair, and many of the furnishings and artworks were transferred to Santa Maria in Monserrato, which is now the Spanish national church. San Giacomo degli Spagnoli was later deconsecrated and the building sold to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. ==Architecture==

The church was built in 1518 according to designs by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Construction was interrupted due to lack of funds, but the work proceeded over centuries under the direction, among others, of Bernardino Valperga and Francesco da Volterra. The façade by da Volterra being erected 1582–1593, the altar consecrated in 1594, and the roof finished in 1598. The apse was completed only in 1675, when a new main altar was consecrated. The external sculptural group (1673-1675) was executed by Giovanni Battista Contini. A complete renovation took place from 1818 to 1822; another restoration occurred in 1929. ==Interior==

The altarpiece over the main altar is The Crucifixion (1564-1565), by Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta. Funded by Prince Philip of Spain it was moved from San Giacomo degli Spagnoli. The three chapels on the right side were built between 1582 and 1588; those on the left between 1592 and 1594. The vault of the nave was erected between 1596 and 1598. That of the apse, between 1673 and 1675, under the direction of the Roman architect Giovanni Battista Contini. In the niches above the lateral doors are statues of two Aragonese saints (1816), St. Isabel of Portugal and St. Peter Arbués, by the sculptor Juan Adán. The entire interior was renovated by Giuseppe Camporese between 1818 and 1821, when the high altar was also built. The high altar was consecrated in 1954. Chapel of San Diego de Alcalá The first chapel on the right, dedicated to San Diego de Alcalá, contains a burial plaque of Cardinal Bernardino Rocci (died 1599) on the pavement with his heraldic shield on the ceiling. The altarpiece depicting San Diego di Alcantara was painted by Annibale Carracci. The framing conch were added in the 19th century. The sepulchral monuments of Félix Aguirre (died 1832), José Álvarez Bouguel (1805-1830), and of the ambassador of Spain Antonio Vargas Laguna (died 1824) were completed by Antonio Solá. On the left is the tomb of Bishop Alfonso de Paradinas and on right, the tomb of the bishop of Terni, and secretary to Pope Alexander VI, Juan de Fuensalida (died 1498), both attributed to the work of Andrea Bregno. File:Roma, chiesa di Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli - Abside e organo a canne.jpg|Main altar File:Regola - s M Monserrato cappella sx2 1050571.JPG|Chapel of Our Lady of Monserrat File:Santa Maria in Monserrato Alfonso de Paradinas 1.JPG|Funeral monument of Bishop Paradinas File:Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli Ceiling.jpg|Ceiling File:Door Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli.jpg|Entrance == Burials ==

• Fernando de Córdoba • Pope Alexander VI • Alfonso XIII of Spain (remains transferred to the El Escorial in 1980) • Pope Callixtus III == Cardinal-priests of Holy Mary in Monserrato of the Spaniards since 2003 ==

• Carlos Amigo Vallejo (21 October 2003 – 27 April 2022†) • José Cobo Cano (30 September 2023 – present) ==References==