A small 17th-century Franciscan church and convent on the Palatine Hill, built between 1675 and 1689 by Cardinal Francesco Barberini at the request of the Blessed Bonaventura Gran (Bonaventure of Barcelona).
At a glance
The Church of San Bonaventura al Palatino is a Franciscan monastery church built by Francesco Barberini on the request of the Blessed Bonaventura Gran and was completed in 1689. It stands on Via Marco Colidio on the Palatine Hill, built over the remains of a cistern belonging to the Claudian aqueduct, and is dedicated to St Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, an illustrious figure of the Franciscan order from the 13th century.
Key facts
- Completed in 1689
- Built by Cardinal Francesco Barberini
- Dedicated to St Bonaventure of Bagnoregio
- Contains the remains of St Leonard of Porto Maurizio
- Franciscan convent church
History
The church was built in 1675 on the initiative of Cardinal Francesco Barberini. It was completed in 1689. The adjacent convent became an important centre of Franciscan spirituality and mission, hosting notable personalities such as the Blessed Bonaventure of Barcelona (Bonaventura Gran), at whose request it had been built, and St Leonard of Porto Maurizio. St Leonard, famous for promoting the practice of the Via Crucis, also spread this devotion through the aedicules of the Stations arranged along the path leading to the church.
What you see
The sober and essential façade is enriched by a statue of Saint Bonaventure dating back to the 18th century. The interior, characterised by a single nave, holds works of art including Filippo Micheli's Immaculate Conception on the high altar and two paintings by Giovanni Battista Benaschi: the Crucifixion and the Annunciation. The remains of Saint Leonard of Porto Maurizio are preserved inside the church, and his monastic cell has been transformed into a small museum.
Practical information
- Sunday Mass for young people: Vespers at 18:00, Mass at 18:30
- Friday Eucharistic adoration at 19:00
Getting there
The church is located on Via Marco Colidio on the Palatine Hill in Rome's Campitelli district.
Nearby
- Roman Forum
- Palatine Hill
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bonaventura_al_Palatino
- http://www.fratipalatino.org/
- https://www.italia.it/en/lazio/rome/chiesa-di-san-bonaventura-al-palatino
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See this place and what’s around it →Record researched and written by RAOUL BENDINELLI for Cultural Heritage Online, 2026.
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