Search this site

Anchor 1 ▼ Apse Artist: Umbrian school. Potentially Antoniazzo Romano Date: 1495 ca • The apse fresco is Finding and Triumph of the Cross. Above Jesus gives a blessing. The lower is the story of the cross: St. Helen figures out where it is buried, she finds the cross, the cross brings a young man back to life, St. Helen raises the cross for worship with the benefactor of the apse Cardinal Carvajal, the king of Persia Chosroes II takes the cross in 615 when he wins Jerusalem, emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians and returns the cross ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Chapel of St. Pius V Artist: Lazzaro Baldi Date: 1672 • The painting is An Angel Showing Pius V the Battle of Lepanto • This painting was displayed in St. Peter's Basilica during the canonization ceremony for St. Pius V in 1672

Anchor 1 ▼ Calidarium • ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ Portico

Anchor 1 ▼ Grille • The cloistered nuns use this grille to join in the church Mass

Anchor 1 ▼ Crucifixion Chapel Artist: Unknown Date: 15th • The painting over the altar is a fresco of the Crucifixion

Anchor 1 ▼ Apse Wall ▲ ▶

Anchor 1 Right Aisle ▼

Anchor 1 Crucifixion Chapel ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ◀ Naro Chapel • The monuments on the walls are to Naro family members

Anchor 1 Interior • The lower nave was not decorated until 1858-1861 when Prince Alessandro Torlonia (1800-1886) undertook the project • The Torlonia coat of arms and his name is found at the end of the nave. He was the benefactor of the giallo antico pilasters and the Egyptian alabaster around them ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Left Aisle Date: 1300s • These are what is left of old wall paintings ▶

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ Chapel of the Annunciation

Anchor 1 ▼ Left Aisle

Anchor 1 ▼ Moses Lifting Up the Bronze Serpent Artist: Corrado Giaquinto Date: 1744 • The fresco is Moses Lifting Up the Bronze Serpent

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Lante della Rovere Chapel Artist: Marcello Venusti Date: ca. 1570-1580 • The painting over the altar is St. James the Greater

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Nave • The single nave has two aisles separated by 80 columns of Baveno granite. The T shape of the church gives a good idea of what an early basilica would have been like. Although this has been completely rebuilt after the fire of 1823, it was modeled on the original basilica built by Emperor Theodosius (379-395) • The rebuilding took place from 1831-1854 under the supervision of the architect Luigi Poletti

Anchor 1 ▶ ◀ Main Door • The pantheon was originally built in 28 BC by Marcus Agrippa • It was restored many times over the centuries. The bronze doors themselves were restored by Pope Pius VI who reigned from 1559-1565 • When the construction of the baldachin at St. Peter's stalled because of lack of bronze, Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644) of the Barberini family had the trusses and girders melted down for reuse. This was the cause of the famous saying: "What the barbarians didn't do, the Barberini did." • The floor was renovated by Pope Pius IX in 1846-1878 ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ Sacred Heart Chapel ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ◀ Chapel of the Passion Artist: Giacinto Brandi Date: 1682 • This painting is Christ Scourged at the Pillar • Scourging was a common prelude to crucifixion in the Roman system. Jesus is turned over to the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate for judgment who sends him to be scourged by the Roman guards