Santa Maria in Domnica

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Domnica (Latin: Sanctae Mariae in Domnica ), also of Santa Maria alla Navicella, Santa Maria in Domnica alla completely Navicella, is at the apex of the Celio ( Caelian Latin ). The name in Domnica is probably derived from the ancient name Dominicum for Christian places of worship. The second nickname, the Church owes to the ancient boat (Italian Navicella ) that was put in front of the church and was probably a votive offering of sailors at the shrine of Isis.

Prehistory

In ancient times, at the beginning of the history of Rome's Caelian was a green hill shrines in groves and fountains. Recalled the original name Mons Querquetulanus ( Oak Hill ) and the Porta Querquetulana in the Servian Wall. Even before Christ, the Caelian developed into a densely populated, urban residential neighborhood. By the beginning of the 3rd century was at the site of the present church, the barracks of the Fifth Cohort of Vigiles, that is the fire department. During the restoration of the adjacent park of Villa Celimontana two column bases were compared with those inscriptions from the time of Emperor Caracalla found. In the Gothic war of the aqueduct of Claudius was destroyed, the ruins of which are still visible in the immediate vicinity of Santa Maria in Domnica. In order for the water supply of the neighborhood collapsed and it quickly became depopulated and fell into the barracks of the Vigiles. When a Christian church was built in the ruins of the building is unknown. Diakonia Santa Maria was in the reign of Pope Leo III for the first time. mentioned.

Architectural History

Pope Paschal I built the current basilica on the foundations of previous buildings around the year 820. For the three-aisled basilica spolia were used as ionic and Corinthian capitals. The mosaic in the apse dates from this time. 1513 was Cardinal Giovanni de ' Medici, later Pope Leo X. renew the Church in the Renaissance style. From this conversion facade dates among others, the magnificent coffered ceiling.

Equipment

The organ was built in 1910 by organ builder Natale Balbiani. The instrument was initially in the chapel of the Military Hospital del Celio, and came only in the 1930s in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Domnica. The organ was restored in 2011. She has 11 stops on one manual and Pedal. The tracker action are pneumatic.