Santa Maria in Trastevere
The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere); English: Our Lady in Trastevere) is a titular minor basilica in the Trastevere district of Rome, and one of the oldest churches of Rome. The basic floor plan and wall structure of the church date back to the 340s, and much of the structure to 1140–43. The first sanctuary was built in 221 and 227 by Pope Callixtus I and later completed by Pope Julius I. The church has large areas of important mosaics from the late 13th century by Pietro Cavallini.[1]
Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere
Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome
4th century
1143
56 metres (184 ft)
30 metres (98 ft)
16 metres (52 ft)
Carlos Osoro Sierra (2016)
History[edit]
The inscription on the episcopal throne states that this is the first church in Rome dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, although some claim that privilege belongs to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. It is certainly one of the oldest churches in the city.[2]
The predecessor of the present church was probably built in the early fourth century and that church was itself the successor to one of the tituli, early Christian basilicas ascribed to a patron and perhaps literally inscribed with his name. Although nothing remains to establish with certainty where any of the public Christian edifices of Rome before the time of Constantine the Great were situated, the basilica on this site was known as Titulus Callisti, based on a legend in the Liber Pontificalis, which ascribed the earliest church here to a foundation by Pope Callixtus I (died 222), whose remains, translated to the new structure, are preserved under the altar.[3]
Callixtus founded a house-church here about 220 on the site of the Taberna meritoria, a refuge for retired soldiers. The area was made available for Christian use by Emperor Alexander Severus when he settled a dispute between the Christians and tavern-keepers, saying, according to the Liber Pontificalis "I prefer that it should belong to those who honor God, whatever be their form of worship." In 340, it was rebuilt on a larger scale by Pope Julius I.[4] The church underwent two restorations in the fifth and eighth centuries and in 1140-43 it was re-erected on its old foundations under Pope Innocent II.
The inscriptions found in Santa Maria in Trastevere, a valuable resource illustrating the history of the Basilica, were collected and published by Vincenzo Forcella.[5]
The basilica has been a Titular church since at least the 3rd century. Ancient sources maintain that the titulus S. Mariae was established by Pope Alexander I around 112. Later traditions give the names of the early patrons of the tituli and have retrospectively assigned them the title of cardinal. Thus at that time, the cardinal-patron of this basilica, these traditions assert, would have been Calepodius. Pope Callixtus I confirmed the titulus in 221. To honor him it was changed into Ss. Callisti et Iuliani. It was renamed S. Mariae trans Tiberim by Innocent II.
Among past cardinal priests holding the honorary titulus of Santa Maria in Trastevere have been:
The incumbent titular holder is Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop Emeritis of Madrid.
The square before the basilica is a centre of Trastevere nightlife.
Madonna and Child at the top of the campanile
12th and 13th-century mosaics in the apse
Mosaic of the Annunciation by Cavallini (1291)
Close-up of ceiling
Media related to Santa Maria in Trastevere at Wikimedia Commons