Chiesa della Madonna della Fiducia

The Church of the Madonna della Fiducia in Tivoli is also known as the Church of the Capuchins, recalling its origins as part of a Capuchin convent. Its seventeenth-century paintings and plain exterior preserve the history of a religious complex founded on land donated by Bishop Eugenio Fucci.

Why it matters

The convent was established at Ripoli in the early seventeenth century. Capuchin friars from Colle Paciocco took possession in 1606, and the church was consecrated in 1611 under the title of Santa Croce. It reflects the history of the order in Tivoli and the patronage of Fucci, who was buried in the church.

What to notice

The simple façade has a rectangular portal and window. Inside, a group of seventeenth-century paintings includes a Crucifixion with Saint John, Saint Sinforosa and her sons, and Bishop Fucci. The background depicts elements of historic Tivoli, including the former Porta Santa Croce, a tower of Rocca Pia and the arches of the Rivellese aqueduct. Inscriptions record the church's consecrations, while funerary slabs of local families are set into the pavement.

Context and history

The complex was established in 1603 on land donated by Fucci. The Capuchins arrived in 1606, and the church was consecrated in 1611 by Cardinal Francesco di Gioiosa. Bishop Francesco Pichi consecrated the church again in 1837. The convent was confiscated in 1875, after which the church underwent a period of secular use and restoration. It later became the parish church of the Madonna della Fiducia.