Santa Francesca Romana, Minor basilica in Campitelli, Rome, Italy.
Santa Francesca Romana is a minor basilica in the Campitelli district, positioned between the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. The church combines a baroque travertine facade from 1615 with a medieval Romanesque bell tower and an interior housing frescoes, mosaics, and religious relics from different centuries.
The church originated in the 9th century under Pope Paul I as a replacement for an older oratory and received its current name in the 17th century when the relics of Saint Francesca were transferred here. Originally called Santa Maria Nova, it became an important center of Marian devotion in the Roman Forum after the destruction of a nearby church in the 9th century.
The basilica honors Francesca Romana, a 15th-century Roman saint buried here, who is venered as the patron of motorists. Pilgrims and worshippers visit her tomb regularly, especially on March 9th, her feast day, when the streets around the church fill with vehicles receiving blessings.
The church stands directly beside the Roman Forum and can be reached on foot in minutes from the Colosseum. Entry is free, but visitors should dress appropriately and remain quiet during services, as the Benedictine Olivetan monks still celebrate daily masses here.
Two stone slabs in the church floor reportedly show the knee imprints of Saint Peter, left when he prayed for the fall of Simon Magus. These relics were transferred from the older church of Santa Maria Antiqua in the Forum and attract worshippers who see them as a sign of apostolic victory.
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