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Santa Costanza

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rufusni
rufusni
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3 out of 5
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Santa Costanza

  • August 1, 2007
  • Rated 3 of 5 by rufusni from Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Santa Costanza

This was built by the emperor Constantine, who declared Christianity legal, as a mausoleum for his daughter Constantina (Constanza being the Italian form) who seems to have been a Christian. It was built in a cemetary in the style of a round Roman masoleum but it had distinctive Christian elements. It wasn't intended to be a place for Christian worship, but a Christian masoleum. However, it was later consecrated as a church in 1256, as Constanza became venerated as a saint and so the church was dedicated to her.

The building has a central domed space that is surrounded by circular barrel-vaulted ambulatory. The ceiling is ornately decorated with mosaics that use traditional Roman scenes but with Christian motifs included and thus have been interpreted as the adaptation of existing art styles but with Christian symbolism eg sheep, shepherd, and vines. Santa Constanza has some of the earliest surviving Christian mosaics, and they are well preserved. The ambulatory is separated from the central space by Corinthian columns with arches between them.

The church is quiet, few people make the trip out of the city centre, and is also cool but is slightly musty. Having studied a little on early church art and architecture I loved coming to see these early Christian mosaics. It is an interesting example of how Christianity developed as it became legal in the empire under Constantine, and how the church adapted existing structures and art for its use. It was a pleasant trip out of the city centre, with regular buses along Via Nomentana to Termini station it is easily reached. Santa Constanza is in a complex with Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura which also has catacombs beneath it. Santa Constanza is open Monday 9am-noon, Tuesday-Saturday 9am-noon and 4-6pm and Sunday 4-6pm, and has free entry.

From journal Glimpsing Rome

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