The Churches of Rome
Residenza Alexander offers you an excursion among the wonderful and most important Churches of Rome.
Basilica di San Pietro
It is the largest of Rome's four papal basilicas, often described as the largest church in the world and the center of Catholicism.
As a pontifical chapel, located adjacent to the Apostolic Palace, St. Peter's Basilica is the seat of the main manifestations of Catholic worship and is therefore in solemn function on the occasion of papal celebrations, for example for Christmas, Easter, the rites of Holy Week, the proclamation of the new popes and the funeral rites of the deceased, the opening and closing of the jubilees and the canonizations of the new saints.
The primitive Basilica of San Pietro, a building of a size comparable to the current one, was erected around 320 by the emperor Constantine in the place where, according to tradition, the apostle Peter was buried. Over the centuries and under various pontificates, that long process began which, in about two hundred years and with the help of many artists (Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini), would have led to the complete remaking of the primitive Constantinian basilica.
The dome created by Michelangelo is surprising for its size and harmony, characteristics that are appreciated in the demanding but rewarding climb that allows you to admire both the inside and the outside up close. Among the many masterpieces, the Pietà by Michelangelo is absolutely not to be missed, the work that has amazed for centuries for technique and emotion.
A splendid colonnade of 284 Doric columns and eighty-eight travertine pillars of Tivoli surrounds the Basilica of San Pietro, as if it wanted to welcome the visiting faithful in a symbolic embrace.
It is the largest of Rome's four papal basilicas, often described as the largest church in the world and the center of Catholicism.
As a pontifical chapel, located adjacent to the Apostolic Palace, St. Peter's Basilica is the seat of the main manifestations of Catholic worship and is therefore in solemn function on the occasion of papal celebrations, for example for Christmas, Easter, the rites of Holy Week, the proclamation of the new popes and the funeral rites of the deceased, the opening and closing of the jubilees and the canonizations of the new saints.
The primitive Basilica of San Pietro, a building of a size comparable to the current one, was erected around 320 by the emperor Constantine in the place where, according to tradition, the apostle Peter was buried. Over the centuries and under various pontificates, that long process began which, in about two hundred years and with the help of many artists (Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini), would have led to the complete remaking of the primitive Constantinian basilica.
The dome created by Michelangelo is surprising for its size and harmony, characteristics that are appreciated in the demanding but rewarding climb that allows you to admire both the inside and the outside up close. Among the many masterpieces, the Pietà by Michelangelo is absolutely not to be missed, the work that has amazed for centuries for technique and emotion.
A splendid colonnade of 284 Doric columns and eighty-eight travertine pillars of Tivoli surrounds the Basilica of San Pietro, as if it wanted to welcome the visiting faithful in a symbolic embrace.
Santa Maria in Cappella
Small and ancient church, it was founded in 1090 during the pontificate of Urbano II. During the fifteenth century the building of worship was assigned to one of the most important city congregations, the Oblates of Tor de ’Specchi linked to Santa Francesca Romana, who began to use the place as a hospital.
The Doria-Pamphilj exercised patronage and Pope Innocent X conferred the property in 1650 to Donna Olimpia who, by purchasing various lands around it, built a garden of delights called "the baths of Donna Olimpia", directly overlooking the Tiber.
The facade of Lungotevere Ripa is still visible behind a modern wall.
Inside there were also important works of art, among which the most famous was certainly the Fountain of the Snail, specially designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Small and ancient church, it was founded in 1090 during the pontificate of Urbano II. During the fifteenth century the building of worship was assigned to one of the most important city congregations, the Oblates of Tor de ’Specchi linked to Santa Francesca Romana, who began to use the place as a hospital.
The Doria-Pamphilj exercised patronage and Pope Innocent X conferred the property in 1650 to Donna Olimpia who, by purchasing various lands around it, built a garden of delights called "the baths of Donna Olimpia", directly overlooking the Tiber.
The facade of Lungotevere Ripa is still visible behind a modern wall.
Inside there were also important works of art, among which the most famous was certainly the Fountain of the Snail, specially designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Santa Maria in Cosmedin
Located in Piazza della Bocca della Verità, the church owes its name to the famous and ancient monastery of Constantinople, the "Kosmidìon", to which the Greek national guild entrusted with the church referred: also for this reason it was called "Schola Graeca" surrounding area and "Ripa Graeca" this bank of the Tiber.
The church was built on the ancient "Ara Maxima di Ercole", recognizable in that large core of Aniene tufa which still exists (in part) in the rear half of the church and within which the crypt is obtained. It was a large monument, like the large Greek macaws, to which the bronze statue of Hercules probably belonged, now in the Palazzo dei Conservatori: it is reasonable to think that the altar was nothing more than a sanctuary erected to protect of a pre-colonial Greek warehouse, where Greek and indigenous merchants could meet and deal freely under the protection and guarantee of the god.
After visiting the church, a must is a visit to the Mouth of Truth, a legendary sculpture representing a screaming faun, depicted with a bearded face and pierced eyes, nose and mouth. probably a mask-shaped manhole cover from a cloaca dating back to the 4th century BC
During the Middle Ages it was customary to lead the suspect before the mask (then affixed to the external walls of the church of S. Maria in Cosmedin) and make him put his hand into the "mouth of truth": if innocent, he withdrew his hand unscathed, but, if guilty, the mask would have closed his mouth, severing his hand.
Located in Piazza della Bocca della Verità, the church owes its name to the famous and ancient monastery of Constantinople, the "Kosmidìon", to which the Greek national guild entrusted with the church referred: also for this reason it was called "Schola Graeca" surrounding area and "Ripa Graeca" this bank of the Tiber.
The church was built on the ancient "Ara Maxima di Ercole", recognizable in that large core of Aniene tufa which still exists (in part) in the rear half of the church and within which the crypt is obtained. It was a large monument, like the large Greek macaws, to which the bronze statue of Hercules probably belonged, now in the Palazzo dei Conservatori: it is reasonable to think that the altar was nothing more than a sanctuary erected to protect of a pre-colonial Greek warehouse, where Greek and indigenous merchants could meet and deal freely under the protection and guarantee of the god.
After visiting the church, a must is a visit to the Mouth of Truth, a legendary sculpture representing a screaming faun, depicted with a bearded face and pierced eyes, nose and mouth. probably a mask-shaped manhole cover from a cloaca dating back to the 4th century BC
During the Middle Ages it was customary to lead the suspect before the mask (then affixed to the external walls of the church of S. Maria in Cosmedin) and make him put his hand into the "mouth of truth": if innocent, he withdrew his hand unscathed, but, if guilty, the mask would have closed his mouth, severing his hand.
Basilica di San Clemente in Laterano
In the 2nd century AD, the land on which the Church is located today was occupied by a Roman house, owned by Tito Flavio Clemente, one of the first Roman senators who converted to Christianity.
The house was used for secret meetings, since the Christian religion was prohibited at the time. Subsequently, a small temple was built dedicated to Mitra (the sun god of Persian origin), a building that, until the third century, was used to perform initiation rites. A few years later a large room was built on the house which, when the Christian persecution ended in 313 AD, became a basilica, to which Pope Siricius gave his blessing.
The Church suffered serious damage in the sacking of the Normans in 1084, for which it was abandoned and buried five meters below street level.
On the same ground a new church was built by order of Pope Pasquale II, finished in 1108, which is the same that we can see today.
In the 2nd century AD, the land on which the Church is located today was occupied by a Roman house, owned by Tito Flavio Clemente, one of the first Roman senators who converted to Christianity.
The house was used for secret meetings, since the Christian religion was prohibited at the time. Subsequently, a small temple was built dedicated to Mitra (the sun god of Persian origin), a building that, until the third century, was used to perform initiation rites. A few years later a large room was built on the house which, when the Christian persecution ended in 313 AD, became a basilica, to which Pope Siricius gave his blessing.
The Church suffered serious damage in the sacking of the Normans in 1084, for which it was abandoned and buried five meters below street level.
On the same ground a new church was built by order of Pope Pasquale II, finished in 1108, which is the same that we can see today.
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
An itinerary in Christian Rome cannot fail to contemplate San Giovanni in Laterano.
Called "mother of all churches in the world", the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano is the first of the four papal basilicas. It represents the ideal trait d’union between pagan and Christian times.
Born, in fact, as a building for public meetings and for the administration of justice, with the spread of the new creed it becomes a majestic ecclesiastical structure, suitable for welcoming a large number of faithful. The Basilica stands on the same site as the basilica built by Constantine around 314 on land already owned by the noble Lateran family, from which the whole area takes its name.
Repeatedly damaged and restored, the basilica was continually enriched over the centuries. Its eighteenth-century facade, built by Alessandro Galilei, is a prelude to the magnificent interior designed by Borromini, to whom Pope Innocent X Pamphili, in view of the Jubilee of 1650, entrusted the interior renovation. The overall structure with five naves was however preserved, as well as the very rich sixteenth-century coffered ceiling of the median ship.
If you are here, the museum is certainly worth a visit, which contains precious liturgical furnishings, and the cloister, a masterpiece of cosmatesque art where architectural elements, sculptures and ornaments of the ancient basilica are preserved.
An itinerary in Christian Rome cannot fail to contemplate San Giovanni in Laterano.
Called "mother of all churches in the world", the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano is the first of the four papal basilicas. It represents the ideal trait d’union between pagan and Christian times.
Born, in fact, as a building for public meetings and for the administration of justice, with the spread of the new creed it becomes a majestic ecclesiastical structure, suitable for welcoming a large number of faithful. The Basilica stands on the same site as the basilica built by Constantine around 314 on land already owned by the noble Lateran family, from which the whole area takes its name.
Repeatedly damaged and restored, the basilica was continually enriched over the centuries. Its eighteenth-century facade, built by Alessandro Galilei, is a prelude to the magnificent interior designed by Borromini, to whom Pope Innocent X Pamphili, in view of the Jubilee of 1650, entrusted the interior renovation. The overall structure with five naves was however preserved, as well as the very rich sixteenth-century coffered ceiling of the median ship.
If you are here, the museum is certainly worth a visit, which contains precious liturgical furnishings, and the cloister, a masterpiece of cosmatesque art where architectural elements, sculptures and ornaments of the ancient basilica are preserved.
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Also known as the Liberian Basilica, it is one of the four papal basilicas of Rome.
The construction took place on a previous church, built thanks to the funding of Giovanni, a wealthy Roman patrician. Legend has it that John, together with his wife, had decided to dedicate a church to the Virgin Mary who appeared to them in a dream.
Our Lady had informed them that a miracle would indicate to them the place on which to build the church. Pope Liberius also had the same dream and the following day, on his way to the Esquiline, he found it covered in snow. The pope himself traced the perimeter of the building and the church was built at the expense of the two spouses.
Still today, every year, on August 5 the miracle of the snow is commemorated with a special celebration during which, from the top of the basilica, white petals are released into the air which produce a truly suggestive effect, not to be missed.
Also known as the Liberian Basilica, it is one of the four papal basilicas of Rome.
The construction took place on a previous church, built thanks to the funding of Giovanni, a wealthy Roman patrician. Legend has it that John, together with his wife, had decided to dedicate a church to the Virgin Mary who appeared to them in a dream.
Our Lady had informed them that a miracle would indicate to them the place on which to build the church. Pope Liberius also had the same dream and the following day, on his way to the Esquiline, he found it covered in snow. The pope himself traced the perimeter of the building and the church was built at the expense of the two spouses.
Still today, every year, on August 5 the miracle of the snow is commemorated with a special celebration during which, from the top of the basilica, white petals are released into the air which produce a truly suggestive effect, not to be missed.
Santa Maria della Vittoria
Dedicated initially to San Paolo, the church was renamed on the occasion of the battle of the White Mountain in the Thirty Years War, which saw a temporary victory of Catholic troops over Protestant ones.
The main attraction is the altar of the left transept, with the spectacular sculptural group of the Transverberation of Santa Teresa d'Avila, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The Cornaro chapel is one of Bernini's masterpieces, especially as regards the skilful use of mysterious and scenographic effects of hidden light, which are particularly appreciated in the afternoon.
Dedicated initially to San Paolo, the church was renamed on the occasion of the battle of the White Mountain in the Thirty Years War, which saw a temporary victory of Catholic troops over Protestant ones.
The main attraction is the altar of the left transept, with the spectacular sculptural group of the Transverberation of Santa Teresa d'Avila, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The Cornaro chapel is one of Bernini's masterpieces, especially as regards the skilful use of mysterious and scenographic effects of hidden light, which are particularly appreciated in the afternoon.
