Religious Architectures

The sanctuary of Santa Maria della Rotonda is built on the site of a nymphaeum, which is an interesting architectural precedent of the more famous Pantheon in Rome. The church was consecrated in 1060, although evidence show it has been used as a place of worship since the 9th century. The building under went a succession of transformations in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, but in 1938 these additions were all removed and the church was restored to its ancient Roman splendour. The interior of the church is really suggestive with its ancient icon of the Madonna and Child in Byzantine style placed over the central altar, which was repainted in the 15th century, while in the vaults to the right of the altar there are traces of wall-paintings, of which the one best preserved dates back to the 14th century. Another fresco can be seen over the right altar: it was made in the 13th century, was attributed to Cavallini and represents St. Anna, St. Ambrogio and St. John. All the altars of the church were built on ancient architectural fragments of Severian age and most of the finds in the sacristy and bell-tower date to the same period.

Address: Piazza della Rotonda