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Santa Maria della Vittoria

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Bernini

Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome, also known as the Church of Saint Mary of Victory, was built in the early 17th century. The interior of the Baroque-style church preserves the masterpiece "The Ecstasy of St. Teresa" by the master sculptor Bernini, which vividly portrays the painful yet excited look of Saint Teresa of Avila.

Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome, also known as the Church of Saint Mary of Victory, was completed by architect Carlo Maderno in the early 17th century. Inside the Baroque-style Church, an artistic masterpiece created by the Italian sculptor Bernini is preserved.

It is believed that most visitors to the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria are there to see The Ecstasy of St. Teresa. The sculpture, which is housed in the Cornaro Chapel and is also known as “Transverberation of Saint Teresa”, is one of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s most important works of his life. Saint Teresa of Avila, with her mouth half-open, suffers the pain of a sharp spear through her heart, while the angel with a golden spear in his hand has a benevolent face and is ready to pierce her again. While her body suffers intense pain, her soul echoes with God and her heart finds immense satisfaction, which is the origin of the ecstasy. The background of the sculpture is made of thin metal lines that mimic the light, and the figures in the niches on either side mingle as if they were watching a scene on a stage. Cardinal Cornaro, who financed the construction of the chapel, also appears in the stands as an audience member.

Detail of the Figure

Manywhere Trivia:
In his novel “Angels & Demons”, Dan Brown listed the sculpture as the third “Altar of Science” of the fictionalized Illuminati.

The Dream of Joseph in the left transept, though outshined by Bernini’s works, is still a brilliant work of art. It depicts St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, being entrusted with a dream by an angel, and the bas-relief on the wall shows the reunion of St. Joseph with the Virgin and Child.

The nave of the Santa Maria della Vittoria is flanked by six adjoining chapels on both sides. The Church’s Vault Fresco - The Virgin Mary Triumphing over Heresy was created in the 1770s, adding a touch of peace and grandeur to the church, accompanied by Baroque decorations and numerous angelic figures.