Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo — Local services in Rome

The apse also contains the monumental tombs of Cardinal Girolamo Basso della Rovere (1507) and Cardinal Ascanio Sforza (1505), signed by Andrea Sansovino. The organ case in the south transept was designed by Bernini and bears the Della Rovere oak tree, part of the Chigi coat of arms.

The first chapel to the left of the choir in the north transept is the Cerasi Chapel, famed for its two canvases painted by Caravaggio in 1600-01. They depict the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul - key events in the lives of the patron saints of Rome. Both are characterized by dramatic lighting, emotion and realism. St. Paul lays on the ground, stunned, while St. Peter is depicted as an old man facing a humiliating and painful death.

The Chigi Chapel, in the north aisle left of the altar, was commissioned by the Sienese banker Agostino Chigi (1465-1520). It was built and decorated by Raphael (who also decorated Chigi's home, the Villa Farnesina) in 1513-16. The dome mosaic of God the Father in Benediction was carried out by a Venetian artist after cartoons by Raphael.

Both Agostino Chigi and Raphael died in 1520, bringing major work on the chapel to a halt. The tombs of Agostino and his brother Sigismondo (d.1526) were given a unique pyramidal design, based on ancient Roman models.

The altarpiece of The Nativity of the Virgin was painted by Raphael's rival Sebastiano del Piombo in 1530-34. The bronze altar frontal was sculpted by Raphael's disciple Lorenzetto, as were the statues of Jonah and Elijah (executed after the design plans of Raphael).

The chapel was completed by Bernini for Cardinal Fabio Chigi (Pope Alexander VII) after 1652, including the famous sculpture of Habakkuk and the Angel and the prophet Daniel. Bernini also added the oval medallions on the...

Most of you have already known everything about the 2 Caravaggio paintings in this church. Unless you're an art major or did extensive Google or YouTube, these 2 paintings are not worthy of your 15 or less minutes. You guys know Caravaggio is a freak right? Ok, he was a great talented freak just like Michelangelo. Yeah, I saw plenty folks walked in and out less then 3 minutes. Here is a little known fact from yesterday afternoon visit 26-10-2016. There is a church "line man" controls the crowds going up to see Caravaggio paintings. His side job is to shush those speaks too loud in the church. But then, he became too loud himself at times. Once he let you in, you've got 15 minutes and he will not let you get back in again. He also will tells you NO FLASH! Which I absolutely agree. Now for those Caravaggio freaks out there, these 2 paintings are very worthy of your ONE EU$1 to turn the light on so you (and others) can see these paintings. Yes, there is a coin box on the Right hand side of the Chapel, you need to deposit EU$1 for about 5 minutes worth. My suggestions are: prime your camera (no flash again! or get a decent low light camera), preplan your positions in your head (get different views) out side of the chapel. Once you get in, you've already know what position to take your pictures and don't forget to selfie yourself to death, there is no shame in it. After you've paid lots money to get to Rome, do your selfies! My money saving tip is to team up with other tourists, I paid EU50cents and he did the other half, now we both get to take all the pictures and other whom did not pay also get to have some good time. Be nice, don't fight to get to the selfie positions, you're inside of a...

We walked in just as Sunday Mass was finishing. The interior of this church is really quite stunning. So much more than I ever knew. The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, which, in addition to lending its name to the square where it is placed, houses many priceless artworks by Caravaggio, Raphael, Annibale Caracci, Bramante, Bernini, Pinturicchio and other great artists who have contributed to make this church unique.

The well-known foundation legend of Santa Maria del Popolo revolves around the evil memory of Emperor Nero and Pope Paschal II cleansing the area from this malicious legacy. As the story goes, after his suicide Nero was buried in the mausoleum of his paternal family, the Domitii Ahenobarbi, at the foot of the Pincian Hill. The sepulchre was later buried under a landslide and on its ruins grew a huge walnut tree that ″was so tall and sublime that no other plant exceeded it in any ways.″ The tree soon became the haunt for a multitude of vicious demons harassing the inhabitants of the area and also the travelers arriving in the city from the north through Porta Flaminia: ″some were being frightened, possessed, cruelly beaten and injured, others almost strangled, or miserably killed.″ Pretty strong stuff.

There is really too much to cover in a brief review so my advice is to go and see this remarkable building when you...