|
le chiese
antiche di Roma
Roma, caput mundi, world capital of history, art and christianity. The proud capital of the roman empire has been the centre of artistic development since antiquity and played a key role in the history of christian art. No other city preserves such an abundance of christian art; from the first paintings in the underground catacombs around the town, to the ancient basilicas and mosaic decorations, to the endless art collections of the town museums and the great baroque facades and copulas of the city centre. The big list of ancient churches from the early-christian and medieval periods, spanning 1000 years of history and scattered all over the city centre and beyond, is particularly stunning. The visitor will be surprised to find the oldest columned basilicas, colourful mosaics, ancient rotundas, romanesque campaniles and decorated cloisters in every quarter of the town. The exploration of the churches of Rome is a lengthy and wonderful journey, as well as a great asset in the understanding of art history in general.
Introduction
The art treasures of Rome in general and the ancient churches in particular present a wide variety of constructions and decorations. Going back into time, christian art in Rome develops only very slowly during the first centuries after Christ, still dominated by the culture of the roman empire. The first christian paintings are found in the 2nd century A.C. in the catacombs, the underground burial chambers outside of the city used by the early christians. The big development starts after the Constantine edict (313) proclaiming religious toleration, with the first public churches being built on the places where the apostles and early martyrs had been murdered. The great early-christian basilicas, constructed in the classical hall-layout using roman columns and decorations, are a truly unique collection of early church architecture, starting from the 4th century A.C. and continued all the way throughout the middle ages. A couple of smaller rotundas on circular ground plan from this period present a mixed influence from the holy sanctuary of Christ in Jerusalem and the roman mausoleums. The mosaic decorations from the early medieval period found in several churches represent a side-chapter of the Byzantine art history (see also Ravenna). Many more roman churches conserve christian sarcophages and sculptures or are internally decorated by medieval frescos. Although the high middle ages mark a relatively poor and quiet time in Rome, the elevated campaniles mostly from the 12th century give the city a clear romanesque face. From the same period dates the remarkable artwork of the Cosmates, artists who decorated the cloisters, interiors and church floors of Rome with colourful marbles. Although after the middle ages most churches have been partially or entirely altered, especially during the prosperous Renaissance and Baroque periods, a great deal is still preserved from the ancient times. On this page an overview is presented of the over 70 ancient churches of Rome, spanning 1000 years of history (roughly from the 3rd to the 13th centuries), categorized in several groups and ranked by stars (up to two). For each church, the ancient parts are listed (with the century of construction between brackets). Finally some interesting museums are mentioned.
S.MARIA-MAGGIORE **
S.PAOLO-FUORI-LE-MURA **
S.LORENZO-FUORI-LE-MURA **
S.AGNESE-FUORI-LE-MURA **
S.SABINA **
S.MARIA-IN-TRASTEVERE **
S.CLEMENTE **
SS.QUATTRO-CORONATI **
S.GIOVANNI-IN-FONTE **
S.STEFANO-ROTONDO **
S.CONSTANZA **
S.PRASSEDE **
S.PUDENZIANA *
SS.COSMAS-E-DAMIANO *
S.MARIA-IN-DOMNICA (-DELLA-NAVICELLA) *
S.MARCO *
S.CECILIA-IN-TRASTEVERE *
S.GIOVANNI-IN-LATERANO *
S.FRANCESCA-ROMANA (S.MARIA-NOVA) *
S.PIETRO-IN-VINCOLI
S.TEODORO
For more great mosaics see also all the churches
above (the Major Basilicas and the
Ancient Rotundas).
S.MARIA-IN-COSMEDIN **
S.GIORGIO-IN-VELABRO **
S.GIOVANNI-A-PORTA-LATINA **
S.SABA *
S.BALBINA *
S.MARIA-IN-ARACOELI *
S.BARTOLOMEO-ALL’ISOLA *
S.CRISOGONO *
S.MARTINO-AI-MONTI *
S.MARIA-ANTIQUA * S.NICOLA-IN-CACERE
S.BIBIANA
S.AGATA-DEI-GOTI
S.SALVATORE-IN-ONDA
S.STEFANO-DEL-CACCO
S.STEFANO-DEGLI-ABISSINI
S.MARIA-IN-MONTERONE S.SEBASTIANO-FUORI-LE-MURA S.PANCRAZIO-FUORI-LE-MURA
SS.NEREO-E-ACHILLEO (CATACOMBE DI DOMITILLA)
SS.GIOVANNI-E-PAOLO *
S.CROCE-IN-GERUSALEMME
S.LORENZO-IN-LUCINA
S.MARIA-IN-MONTICELLI
S.SILVESTRO-IN-CAPITE
S.GREGORIO-NAZIANZENO (S.MARIA-IN-CAMPOMARZIO)
MADONNA-DEL-DIVINO-AMORE (S.CECILIA-IN- CAMPOMARZIO) S.SALVATORE-DELLA-CORTE (S.MARIA-DELLA-LUCE) S.SALVATORE-ALLE-COPPELLE
S.EUSTACHIO
S.EUSEBIO SS.QUIRICO-E-GIULIITTA S.SISTO-VECCHIO
S.MICHELE-E-MAGNO
S.LORENZO-IN-PISCIBUS
S.BENEDETTO-PISCINULA S.MARIA-IN-CAPELLA
S.RUFINA-E-SECONDA
S.BIAGIO-DEL-MERCATO
For more romanesque campaniles see also: S.Lorenzo-fl-M, S.Maria-in-Trastevere, S.Prassede, S.Pudenziana, S.Marco, S.Cecilia, S.Francesca-R, S.Maria-in-Cosmedin, S.Giorgio-in-Velabro, S.Giovanni-a-PL, S.Bartolomeo, S.Crisogono, S.Stefano-del-C (above) and S.Alessio, S.Cosimato (below).
S.ALESSIO *
S.COSIMATO *
SS.NEREO-E-ACHILLEO *
SS.VINCENZO-E-ANASTASIO (ABBAZIA TRE FONTANE) *
SS.GREGORIO-MAGNO S.CESARIO-IN-PALATIO (-DE-APPIA) For more cloisters see also: S.Paolo-fl-M,
S.Lorenzo-fl-M, S.Sabina, SS.Quattro-Coronati (under the
Major Basilicas above) and S.Giovanni-in-Laterano (above).
S.PIETRO
SS.APOSTOLI
S.VITALE
S.SEBASTIANO-AL-PALATINO
S.PASSERA
S.URBANO
MUSEI VATICANI
MUSEO BARRACCO
PALAZZO MASSIMO ALLE TERME
MUSEO NAZIONALE DELL'ALTO MEDIOEVO
CRYPTA BALBI MUSEO PALAZZO VENEZIA
Links Website of the Vatican
with virtual tours of the basilicas of S.Maria-Maggiore,
S.Paolo
and S.Giovanni.
Pictures: Eduard, 2007-2008. For any comments or additions feel free to contact me.
|
Introduction
