Page 48 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

46  INTRODUCING ROME

Rome’s Best: Churches and Temples

As the center of Christianity, Rome has a vast wealth
of beautiful and interesting churches. These range
from magnificent great basilicas, built to assert the
importance of the medieval and Renaissance Catholic
church, to smaller, humbler buildings where the first
Christians gathered, often in secret. Among the most
fascinating early churches are those converted from
ancient Roman temples. Additions to these over the
years have resulted in some intriguing, many-layered
buildings. A more detailed historical overview of
Rome’s churches is on pages 48–9. Pantheon
This monumental 2,000-year-old building
is one of the largest surviving temples of
St. Peter’s ancient Rome.
At 450 ft (136 m) high,
Michelangelo’s dome is the tallest
in the world. The artist died before Piazza di
seeing his work completed. Spagna

Vatican Piazza
della
Rotonda
Piazza
Navona Quirinal

Campo
Janiculum de’ Fiori
Capitol
Forum
Santa Maria in
Trastevere
Built over a very early Palatine
Christian foundation, this Trastevere
church is famous for its
ornate mosaics.

Aventine

Santa Maria in Cosmedin
The decorations in this 6th-century
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere church are 12th-century and earlier.
This statue of Cecilia, showing her as she lay when her tomb A restored painting in the apse shows
was uncovered, was sculpted in 1599 by Stefano Maderno. the Virgin, Child, and saints.

US_046-047_EW_Rome_US.indd 46 15/03/17 4:19 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Orientations template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1)
Date 19th July 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm