Santa Maria in Carinis, Catholic church in Monti district, Rome, Italy
Santa Maria in Carinis was a church on today's Via del Colosseo in Rome's Monti district, now fully restructured as a residential building. The only surviving trace is the entrance architrave, which still reads "S. Maria in carinis"; nothing of the interior remains.
Santa Maria in Carinis was founded by at least the early 12th century and was originally assigned to the Cistercians. In 1809 the monks sold the church and its adjoining house to the Basilians. In 1873 the Italian state expropriated the monks, and the church was deconsecrated in the 20th century before being converted entirely into housing.
The name likely refers to ancient Roman settlements or alludes to the site's location in a low-lying area resembling a ship's hull. Visitors can still see the inscribed letters carved into the surviving doorframe, which tells of this place's religious past.
The building is now private property and can be viewed from the outside, with the inscribed doorframe being the main feature to observe. It is best visited during daytime to see the details of the carved letters clearly.
The only surviving trace of the church is the architrave over the entrance of the former convent house, where the words "S. Maria in carinis" can still be read. The name recalls the ancient Carinae district; Mariano Armellini linked it to a pre-Roman settlement, while the Angeli derivation compares the low ground to a ship's keel.
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