Italy 🇮🇹, Rome, Church of Santa Maria in Campitelli

Baroque Church of Santa Maria in Campitelli erected in 1662-1667 to store the venerated icon of the Mother of God, considered miraculous. The icon is called Santa Maria in Portico (St. Mary in the portico), dates from the 11th century and is made in a rare enamel technique for Rome. 

The Romans prayed to this icon for salvation from the plague. When in 1656 a particularly terrible plague epidemic that struck Rome began to wane, grateful citizens decided to build a new church for the icon. 

The miraculous icon is placed above the main altar of the church, and is surrounded by a magnificent gilded frame with twisted columns (photo 2), made by Giovanni Antonio de Rossi and Ercole Ferrata.