Santi Quattro Coronati, Minor basilica in Celio district, Rome, Italy
Santi Quattro Coronati is a basilica in the Celio district of Rome, where three naves rest on ancient Roman columns supporting upper galleries. Intricate Cosmatesque mosaic work covers the floor in geometric patterns.
The church dates to the 5th century but suffered severe fire damage in 1084 during a Norman attack. Pope Paschal II rebuilt it in a smaller form starting in 1116.
The Chapel of San Silvestro holds medieval frescoes showing how Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity under the guidance of Pope Sylvester I. These images preserve one of the founding legends of early Christian Rome.
The church welcomes visitors, with certain areas accessible by ringing the bell to reach the resident Augustinian nuns. A walk through the complex takes some time as several rooms worth seeing are spread across different levels.
The Sala Gotica remained hidden until 1996, when restoration work removed layers of plaster to reveal frescoes from the 13th century. The paintings show monthly scenes of farm work, virtues, and allegories of the seasonal cycle.
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