Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri
Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, Minor basilica in Castro Pretorio, Rome, Italy.
Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri is a church in Rome converted from part of the ancient Baths of Diocletian. Eight monumental columns of red granite support the high vaults of the central hall, which measures 128 meters in length and 105 meters in width.
Pope Pius IV commissioned Michelangelo in 1561 to transform a section of the Baths of Diocletian into a church, preserving elements of the Roman construction. The conversion integrated the ancient structure into a Christian place of worship later used for state ceremonies.
The building houses a meridian line formed by a bronze strip embedded in marble, stretching 45 meters across the floor with zodiac signs marking the path. This timekeeper was created by Francesco Bianchini in 1702 and serves today as an astronomical instrument inside.
The church stands near Piazza della Repubblica and opens daily, allowing visitors to explore the space freely. It continues to serve as a venue for military memorial services and official Italian events.
The entrance incorporates the original curved brick wall of the calidarium from the Roman baths, forming a concave facade for the building. This design connects the ancient architecture visibly with the Christian structure.
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