Chapel of the relics
The chapel of the relics known since the end of the 16th century as the chapel of the Madonna of Ghiara or the Madonna of Reggio, was modified in 1737 to include bas-reliefs which figure The Annunciation and Visitation Maria to Saint Elizabeth by Giuseppe Torretti and statues of Saint Gregory the Great and Saint Quirinus. The altar once included the Assumption, now displayed in the sacristy, and framed with the canvas of the Madonna of Ghiara, attributed to Jacopo Negretti known as Palma il Giovane (17th century). In 1791, the altar was modified and rededicated to its current dedication. Inside the altar there are compartments containing the reliquaries of the Aquiliean saints Hermagoras and Fortunatus.The polychrome triptych featuring the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Saint Thèrèse of the Child Jesus and the blessed Elena Valentinis are by Fred Pittino (1941). Under the altar slab are preserved the remains of the blessed Elena Valentinis which had been venerated since the end of the 1300’s. The vault contains frescoes of the Holy Trinity with Saints by Pietro Antonio Novelli and Giuseppe Morelli (1790).
On the right, facing the wall, the is a wooden crucifix attributed to Bartolomeo Dall’Occhio (1473), followed by the monument dedicated to Pope Pius IX made by Vincenzo Luccardi (1847)
Above, the gospel-side organ which got remodeled by Pietro Nachini in the 18th century. The paintings in Choir represent Jesus Healing a lame man, The Epiphany, Jesus among the Doctors of the Church, the Healing of the Centurion’s servant by Francesco Floreani, the Nativity and the Circumcision of Jesus by Giovanni Battista Grassi (1566). On the Parapet there is a small tribune, or gallery, designed to hold wind instruments is The Visitation of the Virgin to Saint Elizabeth and The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, both 19th century reconstructions.