This church in the heart of Siena on Via dei Montanini 7 is almost never open, so today is a special day indeed! This small 15th-c church will be open to visitors from 9.30 to 12.30, and mass will be held at 11.00 (when touristic visits will be suspended).
Santa Maria delle Nevi was built at the behest of Giovanni Cinughi between 1471 and 1477, and houses a Renaissance masterpiece by Matteo di Giovanni, the subject of which is the name of this church, Our Lady of the Snows. This is one of my favourite miracles, one which occurred in Rome on 5 August 352 or 358CE. A wealthy patrician and his wife wanted to donate money to make something to honour of the Virgin, but they weren’t sure what, and so, they prayed. The Virgin appeared to both the patrician and the pope, informing them that it would snow (in August!) and that this was where her church should be built. They processed to the site of this extraordinary snowfall where Pope Liberius (352-366) marked out the floor plan of what was to become the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the most important Marian churches in the world.
Matteo di Giovanni’s altarpiece (1477) shows the Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by saints (including Peter and Catherine of Siena) and angels (who hold snowballs!). In the predella you can see episodes from the miracle, including the outline of the basilica in the snow.
Santa Maria delle Nevi as seen from Via dei Montanini 7, Siena.
Matteo di Giovanni, Santa Maria delle Nevi, 1477, tempera on panel.
Detail of the predella with snow falling on the plan for Santa Maria Maggiore.
Angels getting ready for a snowball fight?!
