The Church of the Assumption

DESCRIZIONE:
Pope Alexander VII Chigi lived in Ariccia for quite some time, and it is thanks to him that the town received a completely new layout with the work of Bernini, through the construction of the Church of the Assumption, and the public square which lies in front of the Chigi Palace. Work on the new church of Ariccia began in 1662, and Bernini entrusted much of the work to one of his best students, Carlo Fontana. Bernini‚s plans were inspired by the architectural structure of the Pantheon and he used a circular shape for his church in Ariccia. The church was consecrated on 16 May 1664 with a mass celebrated by Pope Alexander VII himself. To flank the church, two buildings called Casino del Governatore and Casino del Ministro (Houses of the Governor and the Minister) (1662-1664) were constructed, that are connected to the church through a theatrical exedra in the rear part of the church. The building of these side houses was carried out at the same time as the church, and with great speed, because one of them was to hold the jail.