Santo Stefano del Cacco, Catholic church in Pigna district, Rome, Italy
Santo Stefano del Cacco is a church in Rome featuring three naves supported by twelve ancient marble columns of grey marble, cipollino and grey granite. These columns create an arcade structure that divides the central space and gives the building its characteristic layout.
The church was founded in the ninth century under Pope Paschal I as an early Christian site in Rome. A Romanesque bell tower was added during the twelfth century, showing how the structure gradually expanded over several centuries.
The interior displays works by notable artists including a Pietà by Perin del Vaga and a depiction of Saint Stephen's martyrdom by Cristoforo Casolani in the apse. These frescoes shape the spiritual character of the space and show the artistic importance this place held over time.
The church is located in central Rome at Via di Santo Stefano del Cacco and maintains regular visiting hours for the public. It is advisable to check opening times before your visit and plan to explore the space during busy hours when the community is most active.
The name 'Cacco' comes from a misidentification of an Egyptian statue of the god Thoth with a dog head, which Romans mistook for a monkey. This misunderstanding became fixed in history and shaped the place's name ever since.
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