Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orazione e morte

Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte is a 17th-century Baroque church in Rome, once famed for its skull-adorned crypt, reflecting themes of death and salvation.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte (Church of St. Mary of Prayer and Death) is one of Rome’s most fascinating and macabre churches. Located on Via Giulia, this 17th-century Baroque church was built by the Confraternity of Prayer and Death, a group dedicated to providing burials for the poor and abandoned.

Its façade, designed by Ferdinando Fuga, is relatively unassuming, but the interior and history are striking. The church was once famous for its crypt, decorated with human skulls and bones, reflecting the confraternity’s focus on mortality. Though much of the crypt was lost during 19th-century renovations, remnants of its eerie decorations remain.

Inside, the church features dramatic Baroque architecture, with frescoes and altars dedicated to the theme of death and salvation. A Latin inscription on the façade once read, Hodie mihi, cras tibi (“Today me, tomorrow you”), reinforcing the inevitability of death.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Rome
Piazza Navona
A lovely square on the former site of the Stadium of Domitian, boasting wonderful Baroque fountains.
Campo De' Fiori
Host to a daily fruit and vegetable market, this square is a great place to soak up the atmosphere of Rome.
Piazza and Palazzo Farnese
One of the most important palaces of the High Renaissance, once home to Pope Paul III and currently the French Embassy.
Trastevere
A busy, charming and characterful district across the Tiber which has kept hold of its authenitic Roman feel.
Ponte Sisto
Ponte Sisto is a 15th-century pedestrian bridge in Rome, famed for its arches and central oculus. It connects the city center to Trastevere with scenic views.
Piazza Santa Maria
A happening square in the heart of Trastevere where you can relax, people watch and enjoy the festivities in the evenings.

Related Tours

The Ghosts of Rome: Private 2-hour Spooky Evening Tour

Rome is a city brimming with history and a myriad of legends and mysteries. With over 2,000 years of intrigue, betrayals, executions, and assassinations, it's no surprise that many ghosts are believed to haunt the Eternal City. There is no better way to discover some of the most spine-chilling chapters of Rome’s story than on a guided walking tour with a local expert guide. On our eerie evening experience, you’ll traverse the winding streets after sundown to uncover the city’s most notorious hauntings and learn about the lives and deaths of those whose restless spirits are said to remain to this day.

On this 2-hour ghost tour, you will:

  • Embark on a thrilling journey through Rome after dark;
  • Enjoy the undivided attention of your private guide;
  • See some of Rome’s most iconic sights under the moonlight and learn about paranormal occurrences that have taken place there;
  • Hear a wealth of gripping ghost stories from a passionate local;
  • Find out about the grisliest murders and most infamous executions in the history of Rome;
  • Get acquainted with the key characters who have caught Rome’s imagination from beyond the grave;
  • Begin at Castel Sant’Angelo with the tragic tale of Beatrice Cenci;
  • Cross over the Tiber river and discover which spirits are said to roam the Ponte Sant’ Angelo and Ponte Sisto;
  • Pass by Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte, one of the city's most mysterious and macabre churches;
  • Delve into the grim past of the Campo di Fiori;
  • Keep your eyes peeled for various ghostly figures that have been spotted in Piazza Navona;
  • Stop at the spot where Julius Caesar was assassinated;
  • End at the Pantheon, one of Rome’s oldest and most mysterious monuments;

As night falls over Rome, the Eternal City reveals its darker, more mysterious side. On this private ghost tour, you’ll embark on a journey through the haunted heart of the city, where history and legend intertwine in eerie and unexpected ways. With a passionate local guide by your side, you’ll uncover the chilling tales of tormented spirits, grisly murders, and infamous executions that have left their spectral imprint on Rome’s most iconic landmarks.

Your adventure begins at the brooding silhouette of Castel Sant’Angelo. Originally built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum, the castle has served as a fortress and a prison, so it has seen plenty of death and destruction across the centuries. You’ll hear the tragic story of noblewoman Beatrice Cenci, whose execution caused great outrage among the Roman people, and learn how her spirit allegedly reappears each year on the Ponte Sant’Angelo on the anniversary of her death. You will follow in her footsteps across this ornate bridge over the Tiber, which was the site of many public executions.

As you venture deeper into Rome’s historic epicentre, you’ll proceed along the elegant Via Giulia and pass by the Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte (Church of Saint Mary of Prayer and Death). You will find out how this peculiar place of worship is known for the macabre artwork that adorns its walls and is dedicated to collecting and burying the city’s abandoned dead. Later, you’ll pause by the Ponte Sisto, where your guide can reveal some of the legends surrounding this ancient bridge, known for its spectral sightings and mysterious tales.

You will visit the famous Campo de’ Fiori, which hosts a lively market during the day but hides dark secrets by night. Your guide can show you the statue of the philosopher Giordano Bruno, who met a gruesome end in the square in 1600. You’ll find out how he was burned at the stake for heresy, and some say his defiant spirit has never left. In the nearby Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most beautiful squares, you’ll find out about ghostly echoes from the past that have been spotted in the windows of palazzos or heard dashing across the cobblestones.

The supernatural stroll continues to Largo di Torre Argentina, where the ruins mark the spot of Julius Caesar’s brutal assassination, a site steeped in betrayal and political murder. Finally, your journey ends at the Pantheon, one of Rome’s oldest and most mysterious sites. Some say the open oculus at its centre is a portal to the beyond, and its long history of burials has left more than just architectural grandeur behind. 

As your tour comes to a close and your guide disappears into the night, paranormal activity is not guaranteed, but the enthralling accounts of ghostly goings-on will certainly leave a lasting impression as a highlight of your trip to the Eternal City.

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