Santa Maria della Luce, Rome

00153 Roma

Santa Maria della Luce, until the 18th century San Salvatore della Corte, is a church in Rome. She's Church of the Tertiaries of the Order of Paulaner and other communities. In its present form it comes from an almost complete new building, which was begun in the first half of the 18th century and was completed in 1821.

Location and Naming

The church is on the left side of the Tiber in the XIII. Roman rione Trastevere, about 200 meters southwest of Ponte Cestius.

Originally called the Church of " San Salvatore della Corte " or " San Salvatore in Corte " and was Jesus Christ as Savior of the world, Latin: Salvator mundi consecrated. About the nickname " Corte ", there are numerous assumptions. Part of the literature explains the tradition of the epithet with a derivation of Curia, a nearby courthouse in antiquity, others see a connection with a Roman family de Curtibus. Additional explanations are the origin from the Roman word for Jews curti - because of the circumcision - and just a lying here in Trastevere Jewish colony or the borrowing of Cohors, as the Emperor Augustus, based in Trastevere VII cohort of Vigiles had near their headquarters. Is considered to be the most likely, however, that the nickname arose because of a particular character of the building in Trastevere: the houses were built to about the middle of the 17th century consistently with small farms, therefore, derive the name of Cortile, Italian: courtyard, from. This is also suggested that the Church is not the only one with such an additive in Trastevere and was, there are still other churches in this area with the addition of de curtibus.

It was given its present name after a miracle that should have happened in 1730.

History and Architectural History

According to legend, in the early third century Roman city of saints, the Holy Bonosa, have set up an oratorio for the first time at this location. Also a connection with the martyrdom of St. Pigmenius around the middle of the 4th century is made. A church is the instrument by location but only in the 10th century to grasp, about the period 985-996 mentions a bull by Pope John XV. such a construction, the mention of a Salvator church in the year 950 can not safely assign this church. The church was San Crisogono, a titular church, subordinated, which resulted in the following centuries to numerous disputes between the clergy of both churches. A number of popes had to confirm the clergy of San Crisogono always their possessions, as Urban II, Calixtus II, Innocent II, Lucius II, Adrian IV, Alexander III. and Lucius III. or the members of the clergy of San Salvatore remind them of their duties. Only in 1595 the church became independent.

This building from the 12th century was a three-aisled basilica, a model was probably San Crisogono. The apse of this earlier building was painted. From this medieval building just a few remains are preserved: Above all, the campanile of the church dates from this time; also the masonry of the apse was retained during the conversion in the 18th century.

On March 23, 1730 a young man is on a wall the fresco of the Madonna have discovered which did him and other wonders. The other version of the story is that a blind man received his sight and saw the fresco. Then he should " Luce, Luce! " - Have created - Italian for " light ". The image of Mary was with the approval of Pope Clement XIII. brought into the church on 11 August 1730. With the onset of heavy influx of pilgrims, the desire to give the image a more worthy frame originated and therefore the old church was from 1730 and resigned almost entirely in the style of the time, the Baroque, built. Executive architect was Gabriele Valvassori. The works were substantially completed until 1768, only the completion of the facade withdrew because of financial difficulties until 1821 back. Reports on various damage and repairs or renewals are known on several occasions from the 19th century. The last restoration was carried out from 1968 to 1970; Here especially the Campanile concrete and iron struts has been saved.

The church is next to the religious seat of religious communities Apostolato della Preghiera di Padre Pio di Pietrelcina, the Gioventù Ardente Mariana and the Movimento Apostolico Ciechi, an organization that helps blind believers.

Facade

The very simple for Rome facade is three axes and two floors. The central axis with the actual portal is slightly recessed from the adjacent one. On the lower floor, the two sides each containing a rectangle window above the portal a transverse oval window is inserted. The smooth cornice arches about running to the sides but straight ahead. Upstairs is a rectangular window is inserted in the central axis, the sides run out of round, it may be an unfinished volutes. The text of the inscription plaque above the transverse oval window reads: DEO SALVATORI DE Curtea AC B ( EATEAE ) M ( ARIAE ) V ( IRGINI ) / Bartholomew Candussi / FRONTEM TEMPLI HUIUS PERFECIT ( ANNO ) MDCCCXXI and recalling thus the completion of the facade in 1821 The. facade is to integrate them into the other building, considerably inclined to the road in relation to the central axis of the nave, which is visible through the entrance to the vestibule.

Interior and equipment

The solution space Valvassoris is considered "interesting". In fact is not apparent whether the room follows a Zentralbauschema or rather a church after the construction principle of the longitudinal space, it is a compromise between the two. The basilica structure of the medieval building attacked Valvassori to the extent that the church has three naves; the middle part of the nave, however, is designed rather to Central construction. The basic form of the church is a Greek cross. The aisles open into shallow chapels, rises above the crossing a dome. The lantern of the dome was destroyed in 1891, to their strelle entered Opäum. The pilasters of the crossing piers as well as the other elements are designed according Kompositordnung, only the arch of the apse sitting on capitals Tuscan order on the dome gusset and the barrel vault of the yokes are stukkiert rich.

To the right of the vestibule there is a small chapel, perhaps the baptistery of the previous building. It contains an altar from the 18th century.

The nave contains the Stations of the Cross, created by Italian artist 1934. The second chapel on the right contains the altar-piece a work of Giovanni Conca from 1754, shown is the death of St. Joseph.

Also from the 18th century comes the altar of the third chapel on the right; he also said to have been designed by Valvassori.

The Tribuna is separated by a balustrade different colored marble of the naves. In the high altar, behind a smaller modern, are the relics of Pigmenius and the other martyrs Pollio and Miles. It dates from the 18th century and Sebastiano Conca is attributed.

In the apse is the considered to be miraculous fresco with the image of Mary. It is probably a Roman work from the 15th century, 1730 and renewed last restored in 1985.

The second chapel on the left contains one donated by the Roman family Falconieri in the 18th century altar; it is dedicated to St. Francis of Paola.

The sacristy is from the left aisle of accessible and also comes from the 18th century. It consists of two rooms and contains the grave of a lay rector of the church, Giuseppe Bragaldi; he died in 1786.