Home to a miraculous icon, this 16th-century church also impresses with its huge cupolas and its elegant geometric interior architecture.
Santa Maria della Consolazione is a Renaissance-style church and one of Todi’s finest works of architecture. Visit the church to admire its imposing exterior and graceful decorations and attend celebrations that honour a legendary icon. Founded in 1508, construction of Santa Maria della Consolazione took almost a century to complete.
The lawns in front of the church’s main entrance present uninterrupted views of the photogenic exterior. Often credited to Donato Bramante, the design also includes work by acclaimed architects such as Antontio Sangallo the Younger, Baldassarre Peruzzi and Jacobo Barozzi da Vignola. Note the recurrent use of domes, most notably the vast central cupola. Walk around the church to appreciate its symmetrical structure and spot architectural features, including pilasters and pediment-topped windows.
Venture inside to discover a Greek cross layout, with one semicircular apse and three polygon-shaped apses. Adding artistic detail to the apses are a series of pilasters crowned by capitals. Look up at the embossed reliefs that adorn the inside of the domes. Spot life-like statues of the 12 apostles, each set in individual niches.
Go to the altar to see the icon of the Madonna with child and St. Catherine of Alessandria. A worker found this dust-covered image hidden in the walls of a ruined church. Upon cleaning his brow with the same handkerchief used to dust off the icon, the worker is said to have been cured of a chronic eye condition. Pilgrims flock to honour this incident every year on September 8 the festivities culminate in a spectacular fireworks show.
The church sits to the southwest of Todi’s historic centre and outside the town walls. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from Porta Aurea and a 15-minute walk from Piazza del Popolo. Public buses travel between the church and Piazza del Popolo. There is a car park located to the rear of the church.
Santa Maria della Consolazione is open from Wednesday to Monday and admission is free. Bear in mind that the church closes at around midday until the mid-afternoon. This is an active church so remain quiet and be respectful of worshippers when visiting.
