Roma - Santa Maria in Trastevere

Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches of Rome. Legends have it that Pope Callixtus I (217-222) had the church built and that it got remodelled later a couple of times. Pope Innocent II (1130-1143) had it rebuilt on its old foundations. Since then It has the present form with three naves, lintelled columns, apse and transept, created largely by materials gleaned from the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla.

As on Christmas Day the Community Sant'Egidio had invited to the wonderful "Pranzo di Natale" (see previous upload), the 12th century apse mosaic could only be seen from the side. The center has the "Coronation of the Virgin", what was pretty "modern" for that time (see "Senlis"). To the left is a "First Bath", that is a century younger.