SUN AN’ SOUL - DREAM AN’ ROME
SANTA MARIA IN DOMNICA
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| Santa Maria in Domnica - click to enlarge |
A few meters from Santo Stefano Rotondo there is Santa Maria in Domnica, known in Rome as the church of the “Navicella” (=small boat), because of the marble boat which already at the time of the ancient Romans was nearby and that Pope Leo X Medici turned into a fountain.
The term “Domnica” instead refers to the Dominus, that is, to the Lord.
The façade of the church was planned by Andrea Sansovino who built at the behest of Pope Leo X.
The interior has one nave and two side aisles separated by 18 columns of spolio (ie taken from old buildings) in granite, on which you can admire the ancient Corinthian capitals.
| Santa Maria in Domnica - click to enlarge |
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| The Navicella fountain |
The façade |
The precious mosaics that decorate the apse and the apsidal arch date back to the time of Paschal I, who was Pope from 817 to 824.
The arch, resting on two beautiful porphyry columns, depicts Christ between two angels and the Apostles; in the lower section there are Moses, and Elijah.
| Santa Maria in Domnica - click to enlarge |
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| Christ between two angels and the Apostles |
Moses |
Elijah |
In the apse one can see the Madonna and Child enthroned between two groups of angels and Pope Paschal I knelt .
The apse fresco was made by Lazzaro Baldi (1624 – 1703).
| Santa Maria in Domnica - click to enlarge |
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| Apse fresco by Lazzaro Baldi |
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