Santa Maria Immacolata delle Piccole Sorelle dei Poveri is a convent chapel of the Roman headquarters of the Little Sisters of the Poor at Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli 6 in the rione Monti.
History
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The Little Sisters of the Poor is an international congregation which was founded in France by St Jeanne Jugan. They began to build their convent at Rome immediately after obtaining Papal approval in 1879, and it was completed in 1883 to the design of Luca Carimini.
The site chosen was previously occupied by the garden of the convent of Sant'Antonio Abate dei Maroniti, which has led to the two convents being confused. This one is on the south side of the piazza, and the Maronites are on the west side.
DescriptionEdit
This is a private convent chapel, and hence is not accessible to visitors. However, despite being part of a large and impressive edifice it has its own architectural identity. It is a familiar landmark on the Via Eudossiana, projecting from the second storey of the main convent building and looking over the boundary wall. It is a small rectangular structure in red brick with a pentagonal apse. There are three round-headed windows on each side with simple molded frames in white, and these are matched by the projecting roofline cornice also in white. The gable end has a pediment, with a small oculus in the tympanum.
The main entrance of the convent, on the piazza, is actually older than the edifice and was the gateway of the Maronites' garden. It has a rusticated arch with a horizontal cornice over.
