Sant'Agostino

The interior of Sant'Agostino. (Photo by dvdbramhall)

The church has works by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Sansovino—and lies just off Piazza Navona—yet sadly sees few visitors

Caravaggio's Madonna de Loreto, or Madonna of the Pilgrims (1604–06).

Just off Piazza Navona's NE corner—and around the corner from the Caravaggio-stuffed church of San Luigi dei Francesi—is another key stop on the Caravaggio tour, the early Renaissance church of San Agostino.

The first altar on the left inside contains Caravaggio's almost Mannerist Madonna del Loreto, with pair of dirty-footed pilgrims kneeling before the willowy, velvet-robed Virgin who's carrying a ridiculously oversized (if marvelously lifelike) Christ child.

The picture' is beautiful, but a bit weird, and though it's obviously meant to be some sort of adoration of the shepherds, the dirty-footed figures, and the way the man is propping a pole in the crook of his arm, make it look for all the world like an "Adoration of the Janitors." 'Course, that may be just me.

Raphael's The Prophet Isaiah (1511-12).

Against the entrance wall is a shrine to the Madonna del Parto, a pregnant Virgin Mary (carved by Jacopo Sansovino in 1519) surrounded by thousands of votive offerings sent in supplication, especially by women who want to ensure a safe childbirth.

The second chapel on the left was designed by Bernini. The third pillar on the right side has a fresco by Raphael of Isaiah showing the influence of Michelangelo on the young painter.