San Giovanni in Oleo

San Giovanni in Oleo is an oratory in Rome. It dates in its present form largely from the early 16th century and has the " character of a precious jewelry case ".

Location

The oratorio is in the XIX. Roman Rione Celio on the Via di Porta Latina about 25 meters west of the Porta Latina.

Architectural History

According to legend, the small building was erected on the spot where the Apostle John to have suffered and survived an ordeal in boiling oil, hence the name. This is said to have thus occurred in the reign of the Emperor Domitian, at the end of the 1st century, but come the first reports of this event only from the early 3rd century. The area in which the oratory is was built in ancient times with mausoleums. It is therefore assumed that the present building was built over an ancient predecessor. Benedict Adam, a French prelate and auditor at the Sacra Rota, left the building in 1509 to build. It is Donato Bramante attributed, but this is controversial. The building was restored in 1658 and supplemented Pope Alexander VII by Francesco Borromini in the order; The last restoration was carried out in 1716.

Basic structure

The oratorio was created as an octagonal central building. Originally the building had no dome, but ended above the entablature, only Borromini added in 1658 the roof in its current form added.

Appearance

The faces of the octagon are built of plastered brick masonry and rise above a low Travertinsockel. In each case, at the edges of the octagon Knickpilaster are built with simple capitals. Above the cornice the shallow dome rises in the form of a " sloped stone cone ". The foot of this roof shape forms a palmette crown, decorated with Akanthuskelchen, rosettes and palmettes. Is crowned with the design in the form of a knob of rosettes and an underlying band of acanthus leaves.

Portals

The building contains in its outer structure up to the portals no other embellishments. In the fall of the western portal, the inscription of the founder Benedict Adam with the year of construction 1509 and referring to the pontificate of Pope Julius II is appropriate at this time. About the heraldic symbols along the eastern side of the Chigi family attached, in the fall of an inscription which refers to the ( Chigi ) Pope Alexander VII as principal of the restoration of 1658.

Affairs

The interior of the building was designed by Francesco Borromini. The frescoes were executed by Lazzaro Baldi. The building is normally not accessible. Interested visitors can contact the porter of Rosmini College - in Via Porta Latina, 17.