Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

194  ROME AREA B Y AREA

1 Santi Giovanni the high altar. In a tiny room
e Paolo near the altar, a magnificent
13th-century fresco depicts the
Piazza Santi Giovanni e Paolo 13. figure of Christ flanked by his
Map 9 A1. Tel 06-772 711. @ 75, 81, Apostles (ask the sacristan, who
117, 673. v 3. q Colosseo or Circo
Massimo. Church: Open 8:30am–noon will be able to unlock the door).
& 3:30–6pm daily. Roman houses: Excavations beneath the
Clivo di Scauro. Tel 06-7045 4544. church have revealed two 2nd-
Open 10am–1pm & 3–6pm Thu– and 3rd-century Roman houses
Mon. 5 7 church only. used as a Christian burial place.
∑ caseromane.it These are well worth a visit.
The two-story construction,
Santi Giovanni e Paolo is with 20 rooms and a labyrinth
dedicated to two martyred of corridors, has well-preserved
Roman officers whose house pagan and Christian paintings.
originally stood on this site. The arches to the left of the
Giovanni (John) and Paolo (Paul) church were part of a 3rd-
had served the first Christian century street of stores.
emperor, Constantine. When Marble throne of Gregory the Great from
they were later called to arms the 1st century BC
by the pagan emperor Julian
the Apostate, they refused and Christianity. The church was
were beheaded and buried in founded in AD 575 by San
secret in their own house Gregorio Magno (St. Gregory
in AD 362. the Great), who turned his
Built toward the end of the family home on this site into
4th century, the church retains a monastery. It was rebuilt in
many elements of its original medieval times and restored
structure. The Ionic portico in 1629–33 by Giovanni Battista
dates from the 12th century, Soria. The church is reached via
and the apse and bell tower a flight of steps from the street.
were added by Nicholas Facade of San Gregorio Magno The forecourt contains some
Breakspeare, the only English interesting tombs. To the left is
pope, who reigned as Adrian IV 2 San Gregorio that of Sir Edward Carne, who
(1154–9). The base of the Magno came to Rome several times
superb 13th-century Piazza di San Gregorio 1. Map 8 F2. between 1529 and 1533 as
Romanesque bell tower was Tel 06-700 8227. @ 75, 81, 117, 673. King Henry VIII’s envoy to gain
part of the Temple of Claudius v 3. q Circo Massimo. Open the pope’s consent to the
that stood on this site. The 9am–1pm & 3:30–7pm daily. 5 annulment of Henry’s marriage
interior, which was remodeled to Catherine of Aragon.
in 1718, has granite piers and To the English, this is one of the The interior, remodeled by
columns. A tomb slab in the most important churches in Francesco Ferrari in the mid-
nave marks the burial place of Rome, for it was from here that 18th century, is Baroque, aside
the martyrs, whose relics are St. Augustine was sent on his from the fine mosaic floor and
preserved in an urn under mission to convert England to some ancient columns. At the
end of the right aisle is the
chapel of St. Gregory. Leading
off it, another small chapel,
believed to have been the
saint’s own cell, houses his
episcopal throne – a Roman
chair of sculpted marble. The
Salviati Chapel on the left
contains a picture of the
Virgin said to have spoken
to St. Gregory.
Outside, amid the cypresses
to the left of the church, stand
three small chapels, dedicated
to St. Andrew, St. Barbara, and
St. Sylvia (Gregory the Great’s
mother). The chapels contain
frescoes by Domenichino and
Fresco of Christ and the Apostles in Santi Giovanni e Paolo Guido Reni.

US_194-195_EW_Rome_US.indd 194 15/03/17 4:20 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.9)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm