Basilicas in Italy—Rome—2
Basilica of St. Chrysogonus in Trastevere, Rome
Church of a cardinal and a Station church
This church was originally built in the 4th Century to honor a 4th Century martyr. It was rebuilt in a Romanesque style in the 12th Century and in a Baroque style in the 17th Century. At one time, the pope was guarded by Corsicans (prior to the Swiss Guards) and some are buried in the church. There are also frescoes from the 8th and 11th centuries. The church has been the church of a cardinal since at least 499 (at least two later became pope) and is now administered by the Order of the Most Holy Trinity.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, Rome
Church of a cardinal and a Station church
The church was built in the early 4th Century to house relics of the Passion of Our Lord that were brought to Rome by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine I. The floor has soil from Jerusalem, hence the name. The church was renovated in a Baroque style in the 18th Century. It has been the church of a cardinal since 523. Among the relics are three pieces of the True Cross of Christ, one of the four nails used to crucify Jesus, and two thorns from the Crown of Thorns.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles, Rome
Church of a cardinal and a Station church
The church was originally built in the 6th Century to house the relics of two Apostles—Philip and James the Less. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1348 and abandoned for a century. It has been renovated several times and was rebuilt in the 18th Century in a Baroque style. It is the mother church of the Conventual Franciscan Order whose world headquarters is next door. It has been the church of a cardinal since at least 1059, one of whom became Pope Clement XIV, who is buried here in a tomb by Antonio Canova. There is also a cardinal’s tomb, possibly attributed to Michelangelo who was briefly buried here himself.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Eustace, Rome
Church of a cardinal and a Station church
A church was built here in the 8th Century to honor a 2nd Century Christian martyr. It is likely that the martyrdom happened at this location. Then as now it has a special mission to help the poor and needy. The church was restored in the 12th Century and often visited by St. Philip Neri in the 16th Century. It was rebuilt in a Baroque style in the 18th Century although it retained the 12th Century Romanesque campanile. The basilica has been the church of a cardinal since the 7th Century. When he was a cardinal, Pope Benedict XV often preached here as his mother lived across the street.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Sts. John and Paul on Celian Hill, Rome
Church of a cardinal and a Station church
This church was built in 398 on the site of the martyrdom and burial of John and Paul, brothers and soldiers who were killed in 362. The church was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 and the Normans in 1084. It has been restored several times, notably in 1715 and 1951. The church is the burial place of St. Paul of the Cross and is administered by the Passionists. It has been the church of a cardinal since at least 1200 and three of the cardinals became pope, including Pope Pius XII. Four of the cardinals were Archbishops of New York.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Lawrence in Damaso, Rome
Church of a cardinal and a Station church
There was probably a church here as early as the 4th Century, but the current Renaissance church was built between the 15th and 18th Centuries. It is partially built from stones from old Roman buildings, including the Colosseum. The design may have been by Donato Bramante, who designed St. Peter’s Basilica. It was briefly deconsecrated under French rule in the early 19th Century but was restored in 1820. Two popes are buried in the church. It has been the church of a cardinal since at least 1044.
The top picture is from a local source and the others are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Mark the Evangelist, Rome
Church of a cardinal and Station church
The church was built in 336 and rebuilt in 833, although changes have been made over the centuries. The current interior is Baroque thanks to 17th and 18th Century renovations. It has been the church of a cardinal since at least 1059. Six of the cardinals went on to become pope, including Pope John Paul I.
The top picture is from a local source and the others are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs (the Pantheon), Rome
Church of a cardinal
The Pantheon was opened as a Roman temple to all the Roman gods in 126. It was converted to a Catholic church in 609 and dedicated to Our Blessed Mother and all Christian martyrs. The Pantheon has the largest dome constructed with concrete that is not reinforced, and its 16 columns were brought from Egypt. It remains a prime example of ancient Roman architecture and has inspired western architecture for centuries. It became the church of a cardinal in 1725 and contains the tombs of several notable Italians, including Victor Emmanuel II (the first king of Italy) and Raphael (the 16th Century painter).
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Mary of the People, Rome
Church of a cardinal
A church was built here in the 11th Century (there is a legend about its origin described in Wikipedia). The current church was built in the 15th Century in a Renaissance style. The church is administered by the Augustinians and has a painting of the Madonna attributed to St. Luke. The church enjoyed the patronage of several popes and thus Bramante embellished the church in the 16th Century and Gian Bernini gave it a Baroque look in the 17th Century. There are paintings by Raphael and Caravaggio. This has been the church of a cardinal since 1587—one went on to become pope.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar in Heaven, Rome
Church of a cardinal
A Roman temple was once on this site and later a Byzantine monastery. The foundation of the current church was laid in 574. The Franciscans added Romanesque and Gothic features in the 13th Century. The church has relics of St. Helena and from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. One pope and Brother Juniper (one of the first Franciscans) are buried in the church. It has been the church of a cardinal since 1517—one became pope. It is thought that Edward Gibbon was inspired to write Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire while visiting this church in 1764.
All pictures are from Wikipedia.
