Sant’Isidoro a Capo le Case
Encyclopedia
Sant’Isidoro a Capo le Case is a Franciscan
monastic complex and college in the Ludovisi
district on the Pincian Hill
in Rome
. Its church building is the Irish national church in Rome. It contains the Cappella Da Sylva, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
, who also designed the funerary monument of his son Paolo Valentino Bernini in it.
The monastery was founded by a gift from the nobleman Ottaviano Vestri di Barbiano, as shown in a bull of pope Urban VIII
of 1625. Its construction was begun in response to pope Gregory XV
's 1622 canonisation of Isidore of Madrid and four other saints - in that year, some Spanish Discalced
Franciscans arrived in Rome wanting to found a convent for Spaniards and build a church dedicated to Isidore. After two years, however, the church and monastery passed to Irish Franciscans, who had fled Ireland due to English persecution and who still own the complex. They were led by Luke Wadding
, who founded a school of studies which was recognised by Urban VIII's 1625 bull. Saint Patrick
was also added to the monastery church's dedication.
The monastery was dissolved for a time by Napoleon I
and from 1810 to 1820 its monastic buildings housed the artistic colony known as the Nazarenes
. It became a monastery again after his defeat and it remains so to this day.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastic complex and college in the Ludovisi
Ludovisi (rione of Rome)
Ludovisi is the XVI rione of Rome. Its coat of arms has three golden bands and a golden dragon, everything on a red background. It is the coat of arms of the noble Ludovisi family, which here owned the beautiful villa bearing the same name...
district on the Pincian Hill
Pincian Hill
The Pincian Hill is a hill in the northeast quadrant of the historical center of Rome. The hill lies to the north of the Quirinal, overlooking the Campus Martius...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Its church building is the Irish national church in Rome. It contains the Cappella Da Sylva, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
, who also designed the funerary monument of his son Paolo Valentino Bernini in it.
The monastery was founded by a gift from the nobleman Ottaviano Vestri di Barbiano, as shown in a bull of pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
of 1625. Its construction was begun in response to pope Gregory XV
Pope Gregory XV
Pope Gregory XV , born Alessandro Ludovisi, was pope from 1621, succeeding Paul V on 9 February 1621...
's 1622 canonisation of Isidore of Madrid and four other saints - in that year, some Spanish Discalced
Discalced
Discalced is a term applied to those religious congregations of men and women, the members of which go entirely barefoot or wear sandals, with or without other covering for the feet. These congregations are often distinguished on this account from other branches of the same order...
Franciscans arrived in Rome wanting to found a convent for Spaniards and build a church dedicated to Isidore. After two years, however, the church and monastery passed to Irish Franciscans, who had fled Ireland due to English persecution and who still own the complex. They were led by Luke Wadding
Luke Wadding
Luke Wadding was an Irish Franciscan friar and historian.-Life:Wadding was born in 16 October 1588 at Waterford to Walter Wadding of Waterford, a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Anastasia Lombard . Educated at the school of Mrs...
, who founded a school of studies which was recognised by Urban VIII's 1625 bull. Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
was also added to the monastery church's dedication.
The monastery was dissolved for a time by Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
and from 1810 to 1820 its monastic buildings housed the artistic colony known as the Nazarenes
Nazarene movement
The name Nazarene was adopted by a group of early 19th century German Romantic painters who aimed to revive honesty and spirituality in Christian art...
. It became a monastery again after his defeat and it remains so to this day.