Basilica di San Barnaba Apostolo

The Basilica of San Barnaba is Marino's principal church and is dedicated to the town's patron saint. Built with the support of the Colonna family, it combines a Baroque façade of peperino with a three-nave interior containing works by artists associated with the Roman Baroque.

Why it matters

Construction began under Cardinal Girolamo Colonna in the seventeenth century, and the church was consecrated in 1713. Its history reflects the role of the Colonna family in Marino and the religious traditions of the town. Local devotion associates Saint Barnabas with protection of the vineyards, a theme that connects the basilica to Marino's wine culture.

What to notice

The façade, built in 1652–53, is divided by Corinthian pilasters and bears the Colonna emblem in the tympanum. Peperino statues of Saint Barnabas and Saint Lucy flank the side portals. Inside, the church has three naves beneath vaulted ceilings and a dome. The collection includes a Martyrdom of Saint Barnabas attributed to Bartolomeo Gennari of the Guercino school, a statue of Cardinal Girolamo Colonna by Alessandro Algardi, and ovals of Saints Peter and Paul attributed to Guido Reni. The walnut choir stalls date to 1747.

Context and history

The municipal account credits the design to Antonio del Grande, with construction carried out by G. Maria Longhi, Vincenzo della Greca and Paolo Andreotti. The church was consecrated in 1713. Following the 1908 earthquake, restoration work shaped the appearance of the façade. The adjacent Oratory of the Venerable Archconfraternity of the Gonfalone, built in 1697, forms part of the surrounding religious complex.