Basilica of St. Mark the Evangelist, Minor basilica in Pigna, Rome, Italy
The Basilica of Saint Mark the Evangelist is a Renaissance church in Rome with three naves divided by two rows of twelve pillars set with ancient capitals. These pillars support rounded arches that create a series of bays and allow light to flow across the interior in shifting patterns.
Pope Mark commissioned the construction of this church in 336 at a location called Pallacinas. The site held significance because Saint Mark the Evangelist was traditionally believed to have lived there in the 1st century.
The basilica displays frescoes showing scenes from Saint Mark's life and early popes that visitors can see today. These artworks give a sense of how the church served as a place of worship and artistic expression over time.
The church sits in the Pigna neighborhood and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors will find the interior is intimate in scale and best explored during quieter times of day.
A marble bust stands against the left side of the church representing the Egyptian goddess Isis, known as Madama Lucrezia. This unexpected artwork links ancient Roman history with the sacred space of the church.
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