Chiesa di Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri

Vatican City, Holy See

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The Chiesa di Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri, located within Vatican City near the Porta Sant’Anna entrance, is a notable Renaissance church dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.

Its construction was authorized in 1565 by Pope Pius IV for the Archconfraternity of the Pontifical Grooms, who served the papacy’s stables and chose Saint Anne as their patron. Designed by renowned architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, the church is one of the first in Rome to feature an elliptical floor plan, influencing Baroque church architecture.

The building was consecrated in 1583 but completed over several decades, with the façade finished in the early 18th century by Alessandro Specchi and the dome completed in 1775. The interior contains frescoes depicting scenes from Saint Anne’s life and a 1927 painting of her with the Virgin Mary. The church was elevated to parish status in 1929 with pastoral care entrusted to the Augustinian Order.

It stands today not only as a place of worship but also as a historical monument reflecting both architectural innovation and the longstanding religious traditions of the Vatican.