It was established at the site of an older chapel sheltering a wooden Byzantine icon of the Virgin dell'Itria (Odigitria).

The present facade dates from 1853, and was designed by Errico Alvino, with sculptures by Bernardo Manco .

In the chapel of the Madonna di Pompei are a Crucifixion, and a Pietà with Anthony of Padua by Wenzel Cobergher.

The next chapel has a Martyrdom of Agostino d'Ipponi by Giuseppe Mancinelli and a Marriage of Joseph and Mary by Bernardo Cavallino .

The church once held works by Hemsel, Francesco Santafede, Giovanni Bernardo Lama, Maerten de Vos, and Belisario Corenzio.