The Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is located at the beginning of Via Veneto, adjacent to the monastic complex managed by the Capuchins. And it is thanks to them, or even better, thanks to one of their famous member, that the church was built in the early XVII century. Follow me in this story, where we see how even a powerful man could behave like an ordinary one... 

It was cardinal Antonio Barberini, a capuchin, Pope Urban VIII's brother, who wanted the construction of this small church, which houses the Guido Reni's work of art (his "St Michael the Archangel" in the first chapel on the right, read here), or the marble and monumental tomb dedicated to Alexander Sobieski, John III's son, king of Poland. Santa Maria of the Conception gives us the opportunity to look with our eyes the style and art of the seventeenth century, since it is possible to find a painting by Pietro da Cortona ("St. Paul healed by Ananias"), but also the frescoes by Domenichino or Andrea Sacchi. So you can understand why this church is a must see when you visit Rome. However the real protagonist is the customer of the church, Cardinal Antonio Barberini.

He was a member of the noble Barberini family, originally from Tuscany, who at the time had no rivals thanks to the election of a member to the chair of Peter. But although this pretisgious background, the cardinal Antonio Barberini seems not to have lost nothing of his humility. Personally this aspect impressed me, inspiring me when I go inside the church: a seemingly anonymous slab of marble, placed before the high altar. You will find written Hic Iacet Puluis Cinis et Nihil, which could be translated in this way: "Here lies dust, ashes and nothing". It might seem strange considering the other examples that we have in Rome, but here we are facing the simple, almost "poor" burial of Antonio Barberini, not only simple cardinal, but also the Pope's brother, bear in mind.

Imagine how for this man tha path inside the Holy Church was very easy, even comparing other cardinals: appointed cardinal in 1628, he became archpriest of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano and, as if that were not enough, the general in chief of the papal army. Then, however, his political career and the church underwent an abrupt stop, due to the election to the pontificate of Innocent X Pamphilj. This man, a member of another family of noble origin from Tuscany that transplanted to Rome, began almost to persecute the Barberini clan, in order to lose their prestige and political powers. Even the cardinal Antonio was accused of fraud and illegal, so much so that he had to flee to France. Reconciled with Pope Innocent X, and returning to Rome, only in 1653. This is the moment in which, apparently, Antonio Barberini fled all the excesses that had become the protagonist, when he was on the crest of the wave. Embracing a life that could be almost monastic, having in itself a deep religious sense and a great faith that led him, Antonio Barberini almost refused to any good ground. Now you can understand the meaning of the tomb, the tomb of a man who, at least in death, but also before, seems to have maintained a certain humility...