The north wall of our Lady’s transept is pierced by a twin entrance.
Through these arches is entered the shrine of S. Philip Neri, designed by G. B. Cox and added to the church in 1927. In shape it is an octagon of unequal sides with the marble on its walls being old convent Siena. The columns supporting the drum and small dome are of red languedoc, the capitals are of white statuary marble and the recesses are of carved Carrara marble.
The elaborately patterned cosmati floor is made of variegated marbles, set in intricate patterns, no two of which are alike; this owes its inspiration to the designs of
Florence, whence S. Philip originated.
The white marble altar contains a waxen effigy of S. Philip, clad in red and gold vestments, and containing a relic of his body. The altarpiece is a copy of the famous Guido Reni portrait of S. Philip at the Roman Oratory. The picture on the right, in an elegant frame, shows Pippo Buono – Saint Philip in his boyhood.
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