Rome: … of the Angels & Martyrs

Leaving the Capuchin Monastery behind, we plugged Termini Station into the GPS. The time for bidding Rome “alla prossima” [until next time] was fast approaching.

When Google routed us via Piazza dell’Esedra — aka Piazza della Repubblica — we could not resist one last stop … at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, which has a unique exterior. We’d passed by the church many times on past visits to Rome, but had never gone inside. Now was the time to do so.

The name of the church translates as the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels and Martyrs. Built into the Roman period ruins of the frigidarium of Diocletian’s Baths, it dates back to the 16th century. Though several architects have had a hand in the current look of the church, the original blueprint belonged to Michelangelo. It is dedicated to all Christian martyrs … known and unknown, and is the church of choice for ceremonies … especially funerals for soldiers killed abroad.

We found the interior to be vast … far more spacious than the exterior led us to believe it would be. We did only a quick look-see, however, since we wanted to get on the 5:12p train back to Civitavecchia and the sands of time were running out. We’ll have to stop in again when we next find ourselves in Rome and look for the Meridian Line commissioned to be built inside the church by Pope Clement XI at the beginning of the 18th century.Read more