| The arrangement of the square in front
of the pontifical palace, recently restored, and the construction
of the church were ordered by pope Urban VIII (1623-1644), who
commissioned Bernini to design also the fountain at the centre
of the square.
The church was built by demolishing the previous church of
San Michele. Its façade is decorated with pilaster strips,
representing a sort of introduction to the high dome. In the
interior, a Greek Cross shaped plan, there are paintings by
Pietro da Cortona, Raggi and Carlo Maratta.
|
