Three geniuses in a single church

The Basilica di Sant'Agostino packs three masterpieces by three masters of the Renaissance and the Baroque into just a few meters. Here's what you can't miss on your visit.

Caravaggio's Madonna of the Pilgrims

In the Cappella Cavalletti, the first chapel on the left, you'll find the Madonna of the Pilgrims (or Madonna of Loreto) by Caravaggio (1604-1606): the Virgin stands on the threshold of a house and welcomes two kneeling pilgrims, an elderly man and woman, their dirty feet in full view. That humble, direct realism scandalized contemporaries, but it's exactly what makes the work so intimate and powerful. We've devoted a separate guide to it: the Madonna of the Pilgrims.

Raphael's Prophet Isaiah

On a pillar in the nave, Raphael frescoed the Prophet Isaiah (circa 1512): a monumental, muscular figure that clearly shows the influence of Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, which Raphael had seen in those years. Below the fresco, a sculptural group by Andrea Sansovino (St Anne, the Madonna and Child) completes the ensemble.

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Sansovino's Madonna del Parto

Just inside the entrance, on the right, stands the Madonna del Parto (Madonna of Childbirth) by Jacopo Sansovino: a statue of the Madonna and Child, especially venerated by expectant mothers. For centuries, pregnant women have come here to pray for a safe delivery, leaving ex voto offerings (ribbons, silver hearts, notes) that cover the area around the statue. It's a moving, living place of popular devotion.

The other treasures

The basilica also holds:

  • Baroque frescoes and paintings, including works by Guercino.
  • Renaissance funerary monuments.
  • An elegant 15th-century facade, among the first of the Roman Renaissance.

How to plan your visit

In 20-30 minutes you can see everything at your leisure:

  1. Sansovino's Madonna del Parto (near the entrance)
  2. Caravaggio's Madonna of the Pilgrims (Cappella Cavalletti — light it up with the coin box)
  3. Raphael's Prophet Isaiah (on the pillar)
  4. The other paintings and monuments

Frequently asked questions

Which masterpieces are at Sant'Agostino? Caravaggio's Madonna of the Pilgrims, the Prophet Isaiah frescoed by Raphael, and the Madonna del Parto sculpted by Jacopo Sansovino: three works by three great masters.

What is the Madonna of the Pilgrims? A masterpiece by Caravaggio (Cappella Cavalletti): the Virgin welcomes two kneeling pilgrims with dirty feet, in a humble realism that stirred debate at the time.

Why is the Madonna del Parto covered in ex voto offerings? Because for centuries it has been an object of devotion for expectant mothers, who come to pray for a safe delivery and leave ex voto offerings (silver hearts, ribbons, notes) around Sansovino's statue.

Is there a work by Raphael? Yes: the Prophet Isaiah, frescoed by Raphael on a pillar in the nave, showing the influence of Michelangelo.

How long do I need to see everything? About 20-30 minutes for the three masterpieces and the church's other treasures.

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Article #410 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026