http://www.zazzle.com/provaticanus/gifts?ps=60
The Basilica of Saint Mary Above Minerva (Basilica Sanctae Mariae supra Minervam) is a titular minor basilica and one of the most important churches of the Roman Catholic Dominican order in Rome, Italy. The church, located in the Piazza della Minerva in the Campus Martius region, is considered the only Gothic church in Rome. It houses the tombs of the St. Catherine of Siena and the Dominican painter Fra Angelico.
The basilica gets its name because, like many early Christian basilicas, it was built directly over () the foundations of a temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, but erroneously assimilated to Minerva. Behind a self-effacing facade, its arched vaulting is painted with brilliant red ribbing, and blue with gilded stars, a 19th century restoration in the Gothic taste. The basilica is located on the small piazza Minerva close to the Pantheon, in the rione Pigna.
In the area surrounding the basilica and the former convent buildings, there were three temples in Roman times: the Minervium, built by Gnaeus Pompey in honour of the goddess Minerva about 50 B.C., referred to as , the Iseum dedicated to Isis, and the Serapeum dedicated to Serapis. Details of the temple to Minerva are not known but recent investigations indicate that a small round Minervium once stood a little further to east on the Piazzo of the Collegio Romano. In 1665 an Egyptian obelisk was found, buried in the garden of the Dominican cloister adjacent to the church. Several other small obelisks were found at different times near the church, known as the , which were probably brought to Rome during the first century and grouped in pairs, with others, at the entrances of the temple of Isis.
There are other Roman survivals in the crypt. The ruined temple is likely to have lasted until the reign of Pope Zachary (741-752), who finally Christianized the site, offering it to Eastern monks. The structure he commissioned has disappeared. In 1255 Pope Alexander IV established a community of converted women there who were later transferred to San Pancrazio thereby allowing the Dominican Friars to obtain the church in 1275. The Dominican Friars made the church and adjoining monastery their headquarters before later establishing it in Santa Sabina.
The Dominicans began building the present gothic church in 1280, modeling it on their restored church in Florence, the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, following plans seemingly drawn up by two talented Dominican friars, Fra Sisto Fiorentino and Fra Ristoro da Campi, during the pontificate of Nicholas III. With the help of funds contributed by Boniface VIII, this first Gothic church in Rome was completed in 1370. It was renovated by Carlo Maderno and others, given a Baroque facade, then restored in the 19th century to its present neo-medieval state. The gates are from the 15th century.
The sacristy was the seat of two conclaves. The first, held in the March 1431, elected Pope Eugene IV, the second, in March 1447, Pope Nicholas V.
The church was elevated to the rank of minor basilica and the first titular was appointed in 1556.
http://www.twitter.com/ProVaticanus
http://www.youtube.com/ProVaticanus
Loading...
2:52
Attende Domineby ZrinjskiPetar4,073 views
Che bello documentario! Veramente sconvolgente!
anaclet 2 years ago
+ Dominus Papa Pius XII Pontifex Maximus + SALVE SS. DOMINE!!!
PuerVaticanus 2 years ago