Santa Maria in Trivio Sanctuary: Faith, Art, and Devotion in Rome

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Trivio, a hidden gem in the heart of Rome, invites pilgrims and art history enthusiasts on a journey of discovery and devotion. Located on Via dei Crociferi, this sacred place holds centuries of faith, art, and stories of saints who have left an indelible mark on Roman spirituality. Its rich history of changes and transformations makes it a spiritual and cultural landmark not to be missed.

The History and Art of the Sanctuary

The origins of the Sanctuary are shrouded in mystery. Although records before the 15th century are scarce, it is believed that Marian devotion was already present in the area, though definitive proof of its existence is lacking.
One of the most precious treasures of the Sanctuary is the icon of the Virgin and Child, an oil painting dating back to the first half of the 15th century and attributed to an artist of the Umbrian-Marches school. This panel, measuring 85×65 cm, is currently placed in the apse and represents the focal point of Marian devotion in the Sanctuary. Popular tradition claimed it dated back to the time of Belisarius, but modern studies place its creation in a later period.

Over the centuries, the Sanctuary underwent several transformations. In 1573, a convent with a garden was built next to the new church, later absorbed by the surrounding buildings. A plaque, dated March 25, 1657, and located in the first chapel on the right, commemorates the restoration work carried out by the Clerics Regular Ministers of the Sick of St. Camillus de Lellis. It also mentions the granting of a 100-day indulgence to those who visited the church on the first Sunday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

After being officiated by the Crociferi from 1550 (certainly from 1566) until 1657, the year of their suppression, the order founded by Camillus de Lellis purchased the church in 1657, only to abandon it later after acquiring the nearby parish of Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio in 1839.

St. Gaspare del Bufalo: A Heart Aflame for the Most Precious Blood of Christ

A pivotal chapter in the Sanctuary’s history is tied to the figure of St. Gaspare del Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood. In 1862, twenty-five years after his death, the remains of St. Gaspare were transferred to Santa Maria in Trivio, entrusted to the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood since 1839.
The chapel dedicated to the Saint, which houses the reliquary statue created by sculptor Aurelio Mistruzzi, is now the beating heart of devotion in the Sanctuary. Built in 1954, following the canonization of St. Gaspare on June 12 of the same year, the chapel invites the faithful to reflect on the life and work of the Saint, a tireless apostle of the Gospel and a shining example of Christian charity.

A curious detail: Until not many years ago, visitors could explore an interesting museum dedicated to St. Gaspare inside the church, which housed relics of the Saint, 19th-century ex-votos, and Piero Gagliardi’s sketch for the Saint’s banner.
Today, the museum has been relocated to the House of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood in Albano, but its memory lives on among the devotees and visitors of the Sanctuary.

Devotion and Pilgrimage

Under the care of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood, devotion to the Virgin in Trivio declined, while an intense pilgrimage to the body of St. Gaspare del Bufalo flourished. The Saint’s chapel became a destination for faithful from all over Italy and the world, eager to venerate his remains and seek his intercession.
Today, the Santa Maria in Trivio Sanctuary stands as a meeting point between Marian devotion and veneration for St. Gaspare del Bufalo, offering pilgrims a profound and meaningful spiritual experience. The presence of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood ensures the continuity of spiritual tradition and the welcoming of the faithful.

Now owned by the state since 1870 and under the jurisdiction of the Vicariate of Rome, the Sanctuary is a property of the Italian state.

Via dei Crociferi, 49, 00187 Rome, Italy