The Church of Saint Anne in the Vatican stands beside the Porta Sant'Anna, a border crossing between Vatican City and Italy. The Archconfraternity of Sant'Anna de Palafrenieri commissioned it, and Pope Pius IV authorized construction on November 20, 1565. The design is attributed to Vignola, and his plan was one of the first elliptical church plans in Rome. He died in 1573, and his son Giacinto Barozzi finished the church, which was consecrated in 1583 with a temporary roof.
The facade is attributed to Borromini, and Alessandro Specchi completed it between 1700 and 1721. The dome was built in 1763 and completed in 1775. The interior is elliptical with eight side chapels.
The Archconfraternity commissioned a Caravaggio painting of the saint in 1603. It was later sold and now hangs in the Galleria Borghese.
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