The church of Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli is the national church of the Spaniards, and its history dates back to the early 16th century. The interior impresses with numerous chapels, which were decorated by outstanding Italian artists. The symbol of the temple is the Madonna with the Child in the cave and a saw lying next to it above the entrance. This peculiar composition is a literal reference to the Black Madonna worshiped by the Spaniards and the name of the mountain 'Mont Serrat', which in Catalan means 'sawn rock'.
At the end of the fourteenth century, the Catalan community in Rome was entrusted with a church and a hospice, which was overseen by the Brotherhood of Santa Maria di Monserrato. In 1518, it commissioned the construction of a new temple and hospital for pilgrims. At the same time, there was the church of San Girolamo, which was intended for the Castilians. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, both congregations were joined, and works from San Girolamo enriched the rich interior of Santa Maria in Monserrato.
An interesting fact is the peculiar tombstone monument in the refectory portico by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. This is the 17th century bust of the lawyer Pedro Montoyi resting in the crypts of the church.
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