Church of Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella, church building in Rome, Italy
Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella is an early Christian temple in Caffarella Valley, sitting on a hill within the park and featuring four columns on its front made of pentelic marble. The building shows a mixture of ancient Roman elements combined with later medieval additions and repairs that accumulated over time.
The structure originated in the 2nd century as a temple dedicated to the Roman deities Ceres and Faustina before conversion to a Christian church during the 9th century. This transformation reflected Rome's shift from pagan religious practices to Christian faith during the early medieval period.
The interior displays medieval frescoes that show how Roman religious traditions gradually transformed into early Christian artistic expressions. These paintings reveal the spiritual journey that took place as the building changed its religious purpose over time.
The building opens only for guided tours and requires advance arrangements through the Municipal Monuments Department of Rome for access. Plan ahead as entry is not freely available and visits happen only in groups with a guide.
The building retains its original Roman temple foundation with brick walls inserted between the ancient Greek marble columns during a 1634 restoration. This repair method demonstrates how Renaissance builders respected the classical elements while strengthening the structure.
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