Overview:

Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici is a Renaissance library and chapel located on the grounds of the Teutonic Cemetery in Vatican City. The library was built in 1510 by Pope Julius II to house the valuable holdings of the Teutonic Knights and the Roman Catholic Church. The library maintained its original function until it was transferred to the Vatican Secret Archives in 1925. As part of the Vatican Secret Archives, the library is now a protected site of international significance and houses many rare books, manuscripts, documents, and relics. The chapel, part of the library, was built by Pope Julius II in 1513 and contains a beautiful Renaissance fresco depicting Mary with the Christ Child. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Vatican-City
Prominent Features:

The Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici stands in the northeast corner of the Vatican’s Saint Peter's Square. It is a Renaissance building of historical and religious significance. Built in the 15th century, it was used as a church for the Teutonic Knights, a prominent religious order. The building is placed between the walls of Castel Sant'Angelo, the Leonine Wall, and the basilica of Saint Peter. The building is composed of a central nave that leads to the main altar with a few chapels dedicated to Saint Christopher, Saint Leonard, and the Madonna del Soccorso. A portal decorated with saints and angels from the Renaissance age leads to the main entrance. Inside, there are a few frescoes, marble first, ornaments, pentagonal pulpit, and a spectacular ancient teak organ. The Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici is considered the custodian of the late Gothic-Renaissance tradition in architecture. It is one of the few buildings that resisted the restorations of Pope Pius IX and the demolitions of the Prussian in 1870. The building also hosts the tomb of the composer Gioacchino Rossini, who asked to be buried there in memory of his brother, the Knight of Malta. This national monument of Vatican-City portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici is a small chapel located in the Vatican City State, in the Teutonic Cemetery. It was originally built in the late 14th century as a hospice for German pilgrims visiting Rome and dedicated to St. Mary of Bethlehem. In 1468, construction of the church and adjacent cemetery commenced with the support of Pope Paul II. The construction on the chapel was funded by the Teutonic Order and completed in 1475. The three-nave gothic-style church was built adjacent to the existing cemetery, and the burial ground was put under the order’s jurisdiction. Since then, the chapel has been the home of some of the most famous religious figures. Pope Gregory XV spent his final days in a cell in the chapel in 1623, and St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, was buried there in 1556. Today, the chapel still serves as a site for funerals and masses. It is also home to a number of important works of art and relics. Among the various works of art, a crucifix created in 1625 by artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini stands out, and relics of Saints Anne and Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary, are also kept in the chapel. Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici is a popular pilgrimage site and has been a primary destination for Catholic faithful for centuries. It has been identified by Pope John Paul II as a “special place of faith”, and its legacy of art and architecture is certainly worthy of recognition. You must visit one of these historical places in Vatican-City on your Vatican-City tour

Interesting facts:

1. Santa Maria della Pietà in Camposanto dei Teutonici is the oldest church in Vatican City. It was built in the 15th century and located in the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. 2. This church was once part of a larger complex of buildings called the Monasterium of Teutonici, which housed a monastery of the Teutonic Order of Knights. 3. The church is home to a famous painting by the Italian artist, Raphael. The painting, called “The Transfiguration”, can be seen from the outside, and is one of the most well-known art works in the Vatican. 4. Santa Maria della Pieta has a unique shape compared to other churches in the Vatican. Instead of the typical cruciform layout, the church is shaped differently with an extended statement and three bays. 5. In 2013, the Church was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a prestigious recognition of its significance in the history of the Vatican. Visit one of the famous monuments of Vatican-City with your friends and family.