Exterior view
by CORTONA, Pietro da, Photo
It was Pietro da Cortona’s task to provide a fa�ade for an existing building with his design for the church of Santa Maria in Via Lata (now Via del Corso). In his design, Cortona retained the classical idiom of the fa�ade of Santa Maria della Pace. He planned two complete storeys, but the central area remained open. He used massive structures to flank the portico on the ground floor and the loggia above it. This structure is surmounted by an oversized tympanum.
The picture shows the fa�ade of the church. At left, part of the Palazzo Doria (built by Gabriele Valvassori) can be seen.