Santa Maria della Peste, Viterbo
Facts and practical information
Santa Maria della Peste is a small temple-church in Viterbo built at the beginning of the 16th-century to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for the ending of the epidemic of 1493-4. The scourges for that year seem to consist of both syphilis and the bubonic plague. Epidemics recurrently affected towns in Europe over the centuries, with plague affecting Viterbo in 1363, 1374, 1400, 1463, 1476, 1522, 1566, and 1657. The architect is unknown, but the octagonal layout with a small domed roof, recalls another contemporary Renaissance tempietto by Bramante at San Pietro in Montorio in Rome. In the last century, the chapel has been rededicated to those who died in wars. ()
Piazza del SacrarioViterbo
Santa Maria della Peste – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)
Nearby attractions include: Palace of the Popes, Viterbo Cathedral, San Francesco, San Sisto.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which popular attractions are close to Santa Maria della Peste?
How to get to Santa Maria della Peste by public transport?
Bus
- Viterbo Porta della Verità • Lines: Co.Tra.L. D1005 (8 min walk)
- Viale Trieste / Nazario Sauro-Gorizia • Lines: Co.Tra.L. D1005 (10 min walk)
Train
- Viterbo Porta Fiorentina (12 min walk)
- Viterbo Porta Romana (15 min walk)