Page 268 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

266  ROME AREA B Y AREA

5 Museo d’Arte
Contemporanea
di Roma (MACRO)
Via Nizza 138. Map 6 E1. Tel 06-671
070 400. @ 36, 60, 90. Open 10:30am–
7:30pm Tue–Sun (to 10pm Sat).
Also at: Piazza Giustiniani 4
(Testaccio). Map 7 C4. @ 23, 280, 719. Part of the 4th-century mosaic in the ambulatory of Santa Costanza
Open 10:30am–7:30pm Tue–Sun.
& = - ∑ museomacro.org vaulted ceiling decorated with the ruins of a covered cemetery,
wonderful 4th-century mosaics some extensive catacombs, and
The historic Peroni beer factory of flora and fauna, and the crypt where the 13-year-old
is now home to the MACRO charming scenes of a Roman martyr St. Agnes was buried in
gallery of contemporary art. grape harvest. In a niche on the AD 304. Agnes was exposed
Aside from a permanent far side of the church from the naked by order of Emperor
collection of late 20th-century entrance is a replica of Con- Diocletian, furious that she
art, featuring artists such as stantia’s ornately carved should have rejected the
Carla Accardi and Mario porphyry sarcophagus. The advances of a young man at his
Schifano, there are interesting original was moved to the court, but her hair miraculously
exhibitions – both here and Vatican Museums in 1790. grew to protect her modesty
at the Testaccio outpost – Constantia’s sanctity is (see p123).
show casing the latest on the debatable – she was described The church is said to have
local and national scene. by the historian Marcellinus as been built at the request of
a fury incarnate, goading her the Emperor Constantine’s
equally unpleasant husband daughter, Constantia, after she
Hannibalianus to violence. Her had prayed at the Tomb of St.
canonization was probably the Agnes for delivery from leprosy.
result of some confusion with a Though much altered over the
saintly nun of the same name. centuries, the form, and much of
the structure, of the 4th-century
7 Sant’Agnese basilica remain intact. In the 7th-
century apse mosaic St. Agnes
fuori le Mura appears as a bejeweled
Via Nomentana 349. Tel 06-8620 5456. Byzantine empress. According
@ 36, 60, 84, 90. q S. Agnese Anni- to tradition, she appeared like
baliano. Church: Open 8am–7pm this eight days after her death,
daily. Catacombs: Open 9am–noon, holding a white lamb. Every year
3–5pm (4–6pm in summer) daily. on January 21, two lambs are
Closed Nov. & 7 8 blessed on the church altar, and
a vestment called the pallium is
The church of Sant’Agnese woven from their wool. Every
stands among a group of early newly appointed archbishop
Christian buildings that includes is sent a pallium by the pope.
Interior of Santa Costanza
6 Santa Costanza
Via Nomentana 349. Tel 06-8620 5456.
@ 36, 60, 84, 90. q S. Agnese Anni-
baliano. Open 9am–noon, 3–6pm
Mon–Sat, 3–6pm Sun. & 7 8
The round church of Santa
Costanza was first built as a mau-
so leum for Emperor Constan-
tine’s daughters, Constantia and
Helena, in the early 4th century.
The dome and its drum are
supported by a circular arcade
resting on 12 magnificent pairs of
granite columns. The ambulatory
that runs around the outside of
the central arcade has a barrel- Apse mosaic in Sant’Agnese, showing the saint flanked by two popes

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.9)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm