Francesco Borromini and the Spanish Church of Santi Ildefonso e Tommaso da Villanova in Rome

Abstract

THE CONVENT OF SANTI ILDEFONSO E TOMMASO DA VILLANOVA , the Roman headquarters of the Spanish Order of Discalced Augustinians, lies on Via Sistina, close to the palace housing the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. The order was under Spanish patronage from its foundation, and in 1611 King Philip III wrote to his ambassador in Rome in order to grant his protection to the Discalced Augustinians. The history of the monastery began in 1619 with the license granted by Cardinal Giovanni Garzia Mellini, and its construction concluded in 1672 with the consecration of the church. The foundation was proud of its Spanish allegiance, which was underscored by having the names of Pope Clement IX and King Charles II of Spain chiseled onto its cornerstone. At the end of the century, the monks refused to place the tombstone of Juan Zamorra inside their building, arguing that it had been constructed by and for Spain and, therefore, that only the name of the nation could be represented. Moreover, this Spanish vocation was confirmed in the twentieth century by Elías Tormo, who included the monas-