After a plague around 1656, Pope Alexander VII commissioned a grander church to house the icon of the Virgin. Carlo Rainaldi designed the High Baroque church, built from 1659 to 1667. The facade has two levels of travertine Corinthian and composite columns, detached from the wall, and the statues once planned were never made. The gilded gloria of angels, clouds and light behind the main altar was devised by Melchiorre Cafà, who died before completing it, and others finished it. It is modeled on Bernini's effects at St Peter's.
The silver-gilt icon, about 10 inches (25 cm) high, is probably 11th century, though tradition dates it to 524. A staircase behind the gloria for a closer view opens only by request.
The Clerics Regular of the Mother of God serve the church, a titular church of Rome.
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