Church of Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella
Encyclopedia
The church of Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella is found on the edge of the Caffarella Park
in the southeast of Rome
. It was originally a Roman temple. In the 10th Century, the structure was modified and consecrated as a church and it was extensively altered in the 17th Century.
and Faustina
, wife of Antonius Pius, although one early historian, Pompilio Totti, believed that it was dedicated to Bacchus
. The site lies on land that was formerly part of the Triopio, an estate owned by the Roman Senator of Greek origin, Herodes Atticus
and his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla
. It is considered that the temple was also dedicated to her by her husband after her death at the hands of one of his freed slaves.
The church was built over the temple in the 10th Century and was dedicated to St. Urban who was Pope from 222-230. Internal frescoes were added in the 12th Century. Often abandoned, the church was eventually restored by Pope Urban VIII
and his nephew Cardinal Francesco Barberini, beginning in 1634. The columns at the front are in marble bought from Greece by Herodes Atticus. They originally formed part of a portico but walls between them were added during this renovation in order to provide stability.
Even after the renovation, the church’s remote position meant that it was often subject to vandalism and it was eventually abandoned. In 1962 it was annexed by the owner of the neighbouring property. The building was acquired by the city of Rome in 2002 and given to the Diocese of Rome and now serves as a rectory in the parish of San Sebastiano fuori le mura
. It underwent restoration in 2010-11. Open to the public only on Sunday mornings prior to restoration, it was still closed to the public in April 2011.
Park of the Caffarella
-History:The Caffarella Park is a large park in Rome, Italy, protected from development. It is part of the Parco Regionale Appia Antica . The park is contained in the Caffarella Valley and is bordered on its northern side by the Via Latina and on its southern by the Appian Way. It extends...
in the southeast of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. It was originally a Roman temple. In the 10th Century, the structure was modified and consecrated as a church and it was extensively altered in the 17th Century.
History
The original construction on the site was a pagan temple or perhaps a tomb, from around 160 AD. This is believed to have been dedicated to CeresCERES
CERES may refer to:* California Environmental Resources Evaluation System * Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies of the University of Toronto...
and Faustina
Faustina the Elder
Annia Galeria Faustina, more familiarly referred to as Faustina I , was a Roman Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.-Early life:...
, wife of Antonius Pius, although one early historian, Pompilio Totti, believed that it was dedicated to Bacchus
Bacchus
Bacchus is the Roman name for Dionysus, the god of wine and intoxication.Bacchus can also refer to:* Temple of Bacchus, a Roman temple at a large classical antiquity complex in Baalbek, Lebanon...
. The site lies on land that was formerly part of the Triopio, an estate owned by the Roman Senator of Greek origin, Herodes Atticus
Herodes Atticus
Lucius Vibullius Hipparchus Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes, otherwise known as Herodes Atticus was a very distinguished, rich Greek aristocrat who served as a Roman Senator and a Sophist. He is notable as a proponent in the Second Sophistic by Philostratus.-Ancestry and Family:Herodes Atticus...
and his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla
Aspasia Annia Regilla
Aspasia Annia Regilla, full name Appia Annia Regilla Atilia Caucidia Tertulla , was a wealthy, aristocratic and influential Roman woman, who was a distant relative of several Roman Emperors and Roman Empresses. She was the wife of the prominent Greek Herodes Atticus .-Genealogy:Regilla was born...
. It is considered that the temple was also dedicated to her by her husband after her death at the hands of one of his freed slaves.
The church was built over the temple in the 10th Century and was dedicated to St. Urban who was Pope from 222-230. Internal frescoes were added in the 12th Century. Often abandoned, the church was eventually restored by Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
and his nephew Cardinal Francesco Barberini, beginning in 1634. The columns at the front are in marble bought from Greece by Herodes Atticus. They originally formed part of a portico but walls between them were added during this renovation in order to provide stability.
Even after the renovation, the church’s remote position meant that it was often subject to vandalism and it was eventually abandoned. In 1962 it was annexed by the owner of the neighbouring property. The building was acquired by the city of Rome in 2002 and given to the Diocese of Rome and now serves as a rectory in the parish of San Sebastiano fuori le mura
San Sebastiano fuori le mura
San Sebastiano fuori le mura , or San Sebastiano ad Catacumbas , is a basilica in Rome, central Italy...
. It underwent restoration in 2010-11. Open to the public only on Sunday mornings prior to restoration, it was still closed to the public in April 2011.