Santa Maria in Trastevere
Opening time: 7.30-13 and 16-19
The church was built on a place called "taverna meritori" (home for disabled soldiers) and where, as tradition claims on the day that christ was born a fountain of pure oil sprang from the earth, Pope S. Calisto I founded a christian meeting place named "Titulus Calixsus".
Pope S. Julius built a basilica on this site, that appeared as Titulus Juli till the end of the 6th century.
Only further on it was named S. Maria in Trastevere. It was believed to be the first church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Vergin but other opinions state that it is the first Christian basilica where mass was celebrated openly.
The first projects of embellishment started in the 6th century under Pope John II:
in 828 A.C. under Gregory IV important restorations were made till Pope Innocent II completely rebuilt it in the 12th century. Since then the interior of the basilica has maintained its 12th century aspect. It appears majestic with its antique granite columns of different dimensions and origins that dived the nave in three parts.
After Pope Pio IX’s restructuring on the capitals heathen divinities were engraved.
On the walls above the colonade, between and on the windows there are several gold-background mosaics of saints done by artistists in 800 A.C.
The magnificent ceiling of the basilica has lacunar entries enriched by golden wooden panels.
On the centre of the ceiling there is the “Assumption” by Domenichino painted on a layer of copper.
The pavement is in a modern cromatesque style.
Within the apse there is a big mosaic depicting Christ and the blessed Vergin on a throne