The Church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, designed by Bernini, is renowned for its architecture and its interior spaces, for how the master of the Baroque conceived a play of light and shadow, of white and gilded stuccoes, to surprise the observer. Entering the church with its elliptical plan, it almost feels like being inside a theater, with visitors appearing to be real spectators. A tour here, even for a few moments, truly manages to catapult you into the wonders that only the Baroque can offer, particularly thanks to Bernini and his scenic effects (as in this case), making Rome even more spectacular. But there is more that the church does not tell us, something that can only be visited with patience and knowing where to go. With the apse in front of you, go to the right and you will find the entrance to access the sacristy, which in itself, with its frescoes, is a room of great respect. But the true wonder, which can be accessed by paying a small offering, is located on the upper floor. Climb the stairs, where the Jesuit seminary is, and you will immediately be captivated by the poignant beauty of this magnificent sculpture, made of polychrome marbles, depicting St. Stanislaus Kostka. 

Born in Poland in 1550, he died in Rome in 1568, at only 18 years old. From a young age, he had in mind to pursue an ecclesiastical career, especially within the ranks of the Jesuits. He began his novitiate in his native land but then, at only 17 and against his father's will, he ran away from home to go, personally, to Rome. He crossed all of Germany on foot, crossed the Alps, and descended the Peninsula, until he arrived here in the Urbe, to be hosted by the Jesuit community. As mentioned before, he would die shortly after at a very young age. This extraordinary sculpture was created by Pierre Legros the Younger between 1702 and 1703. The incredible naturalness of the young man's black dress is striking, with every single fold crafted to perfection. Not to mention the bed, also in polychrome marbles, which makes the whole even more exceptional. There is devotion, there is vigor, there is sweetness in this sculpture and also in the face of young Stanislaus, skillfully represented at the moment of his death but, at the same time, with that serenity typical of those who know that death is nothing but a mere passage. A small final curiosity: behind the sculpture, you can notice a canvas that, right at the height of the saint's head, has the frame cut. The reason? The canvas is by Minardi and was created after the sculpture. The problem lies in the dimensions, as the painting was too large and, due to the head of the statue, did not fit perfectly into the space allocated for it. So, simply, a piece of the frame was removed to fit everything in!

A small final gem that, however, does not diminish the view of this impressive sculpture which, in the end, is a combination of two things: devotion and art. A close relationship here in Rome, capable of creating hidden wonders like this. Here, then, is another reason why I invite you to visit the Church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. Not only the building itself but also what it contains is well worth a visit.