Santa Maria in Via

About

Santa Maria in Via is a church in Rome. The church or a chapel existed in the 9th century, but was rebuilt following reports of a miracle. In 1165, it is recorded as Santa Maria in Via, whose appellative means "on the Way", with a reference to the nearby Via Flaminia.

On the site there was the house of Cardinal Pietro Capocci, with a well in the stables. On the night of 26 September 1256, the well overflowed. A picture of Our Lady was floating on the waters, which disappeared as soon as the picture was taken. Pope Alexander IV declared it a miracle, and ordered the construction of a chapel on its place; in the chapel (the first on the right of the current church) there is still the well of the miracle.

Pope Innocent VIII ordered the construction of the current church, which was built in 1491–1513. Renovations were performed under Francesco da Volterra and later by Carlo Lombardi. The façade and portico were designed by Pietro da Cortona (1660). The main altar was decorated by Santi Ghetti. The works were completed under Cardinal Saint Robert Bellarmine, titular of the church, in 1604.

The church of S. Maria in Via now serves as a national church in Rome for the Ecuadorian community.

The church has been served by the Servite Order since a grant of Pope Leo X in 1513.

The Titulus S. Mariae in Via was instituted by Pope Julius III in 1551. The occupants of the titulus have been:

- Fulvio Giulio della Corgna, O.S.Io.Hieros. (4 December 1551 — 29 May 1555) translated to Cardinal-Priest of San Bartolomeo all’Isola

- Giacomo Puteo (29 May 1555 — 26 April 1563)

- Alessandro Sforza (15 May 1565 — 16 May 1581)

- Vincenzo Lauro (20 May 1585 — 2 March 1589) translated to Cardinal-Priest of San Clemente

- Gianfrancesco Morosini (28 March 1590 — 10 January 1596)

- Silvio Savelli (21 June 1596 — 22 January 1599)

- Roberto Bellarmino, S.J. (17 March 1599 — 1 June 1605) translated to Cardinal-Priest of San Matteo in Merulana)

- Stefano Pignatelli (3 March 1621 — 12 August 1623)

- Gil Carrillo de Albornoz (12 August 1630 — 2 August 1643) translated to Cardinal-Priest of San Pietro in Montorio

- Francesco Angelo Rapaccioli (14 December 1643 — 21 November 1650) translated to Cardinal-Priest of Santa Cecilia

- Carlo Rossetti (18 August 1653 — 9 March 1654) translated to Cardinal-Priest of San Silvestro in Capite

- Francesco Albizzi (23 March 1654 – 24 August 1671) Appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santi Quattro Coronati

- César d'Estrées (8 August 1672 – 28 January 1675) Appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santissima Trinità al Monte Pincio

- Carlo Carafa della Spina, C.R. (27 May 1675 – 19 Oct 1680)