Sant'Agostino, Rome

The Basilica of Saint Augustine of Hippo in Camp Martius
Latin: Basilica Sancti Augustini in Campo Martio
Italian: Basilica di Sant'Agostino in Campo Marzio
Façade from the Piazza di Sant’Agostino
Map
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
41°54′3″N 12°28′27″E / 41.90083°N 12.47417°E / 41.90083; 12.47417
Location80 Via della Scrofa (parish office), Rome
CountryItaly
DenominationCatholic
Religious orderOrder of Saint Augustine
Websitewww.agostiniani.it
History
StatusMinor basilica
Founder(s)Pope Boniface VIII
Guillaume d'Estouteville
DedicationAugustine of Hippo
Tryphon
Cult(s) presentMadonna del Parto
Saint Augustine
Saint Monica
Relics held
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Giacomo di Pietrasanta
Francesco Borromini
Baccio Pontelli
Luigi Vanvitelli
Carlo Murena
StyleRoman renaissance
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Rome
Clergy
Cardinal protectorJean-Pierre Ricard
Priest in chargeFelice Perrino

The Basilica of Saint Augustine in Camp Martius (Italian: Basilica di Sant'Agostino in Campo Marzio; Latin: Basilica Sancti Augustini in Campo Martio), commonly known as Basilica of Saint Augustine is a Catholic titular minor basilica in the Campus Martius area of Rome, Italy. Dedicated to Saint Augustine of Hippo it serves as the motherhouse of the Augustinian Friars.

First conceived in 1286, the current basilica (completed in 1483) is known for its Renaissance architecture style; housing artwork by Roman artisans Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, and Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. It is also the burial site of Saint Monica, the mother of Augustine.

Pope John Paul II raised the shrine to the status of Minor Basilica via decree on 29 October 1999.

History

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The former parish of Saint Tryphon in Posterula Church was built at this site in 700 A.D. and was originally dedicated to the martyr Saint Tryphon of Campsada. The Order of Saint Augustine was founded at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome in 1244. The Augustinian friars soon desired to have their main monastery and church closer to Vatican City.[1] The Roman nobleman Egidio Lufredi donated land near here in Campo Marzio to the Augustinian friars in 1286. On 20 February 1287 Pope Honorius IV granted the St. Tryphon in Posterula Church to the Augustinian friars.

The first building structure was commissioned by Pope Boniface VIII, was built here by the Augustinian friars in 1296-1446 right next to the St. Tryphon in Posterula Church. The construction of the second (current) basilica began in 1479. It was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV; designed by architect Baccio Pontelli (who also designed the Sistine Chapel); and funded by Cardinal Guillaume d'Estouteville.[2] Its construction was completed in 1483. Giacomo di Pietrasanta (?-1495) built its façade by using travertine salvaged from the ruins of the Colosseum. Its façade reads the following:

Guillermus de Estoutevilla, Episcopus Ostiensis, Cardinalis Rothomagensis, Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ, Camerarius, Fecit MCCCCLXXXIII


English: William of Stateville, the Bishop of Ostia, Cardinal of Rouen of the Holy Roman Church, Camerlengo, built this in the Year 1483.

Its first restoration was completed in 1763 by Luigi Vanvitelli;[3] its second restoration was completed in 1870; and its most recent restoration occurred in 1998–2000.

The title of Sant'Agostino has been held by Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard since 2006. It is the station church of the first Saturday in Lent.

Artwork

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Internal Nave and High Altar.

The 1606 painting Madonna of Loreto (also known as the Madonna of the Pilgrims) by Caravaggio is located in the first chapel on the left.[4] The heirs of Ermete Cavalletti (?-1602) bought the Pieta Chapel on 4 September 1603 and soon commissioned Caravaggio to paint the Madonna for their family's chapel. It was hung in 1606 at the altar in the Cavalletti Chapel (former Pieta Chapel) in place of a Pieta that was sold to Pope Paul V (formerly Cardinal Camillo Borghese).

The 1512 fresco Prophet Isaiah by Raphael is located on the third pilaster of the left nave.[5] It was part of the funerary monument of Johannes Goritz (1455–1527; also known as Janus Corycius). Isaiah holds a Hebrew scroll stating: "Open the doors, so that the people who believe may enter." (Isaiah 26:2–3) The statue Saint Anne and Virgin with Child (1512) by Andrea Sansovino is located below Raphael's Isaiah.

The 1521 sculpture Madonna del Parto (Our Lady of Childbirth) by Jacopo Sansovino is based, according to a legend, on an ancient statue of Agrippina holding Nero in her arms, is reputed by tradition to work miracles in childbirth. It is located in a niche to the right of the entrance and is surrounded by thank-offerings of flowers and candles.

High Altar (1628) by Orazio Turriani

The 1588 frescoes of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist by Avanzino Nucci are also here.

The 1616 ceiling fresco Assumption of Mary and three paintings by Giovanni Lanfranco are located in the Buongiovanni Chapel (in the left transept).

The 1600s painting Saints Augustine, John the Evangelist and Jerome by Guercino is also here.

The sculpture St. Thomas of Villanova Distributing Alms by Melchiorre Cafà and completed by his mentor Ercole Ferrata is located in the St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel (left end of transept). The etching Charity of St Thomas of Villanova by Cafà himself illustrates this same sculpture.[6]

The 1628 High Altar was designed by Orazio Turriani. It was previously (but erroneously) thought that Gian Lorenzo Bernini had designed it.

Its nave ceiling fresco was completed in 1868 by Pietro Gagliardi; who also made the 5 prophet pillar frescoes (including Ezekiel), 6 Old Testament women & 12 scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

Tombs

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St. Tryphon of Campsada died in AD 250 and is located under the High Altar.

Saint Monica died in 387. Her tomb was transferred here from the Santa Aurea Church in Ostia Antica, Italy on 11 April 1424.[7] Her sarcophagus was designed by Isaia da Pisa (1410–1464) in 1455, and is now located in the Chapel of Saint Monica (left of the apse).

Norways's Archbishop Olav Trondsson died on 25 November 1474. His tombstone reads: "CVI DEDERAT SACRAM MERITO NORVEGIA SEDEM HIC TEGIT OLAVI FRIGIDVS OSSA LAPIS" (Here a cold stone covers the bones of Olav, to whom Norway rightly gave the holy chair).[8]

Cardinal Guillaume d'Estouteville died on 22 January 1483.

Cardinal Giuseppe Renato Imperiali died on 18 February 1737. Pietro Bracci designed and sculpted his polychrome tomb in 1741.[9]

The inscriptions found in the basilica have been collected and published by Vincenzo Forcella.[10]

List of Cardinal—Protectors

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Pope Sixtus V (1585–1590) established the titular church of a cardinal priest in April 1587.[citation needed]

Access

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The basilica is open daily to the general public with some restrictions:

  • 7:15 AM—12:00 PM and 4:00—7:30 PM.
  • Roaming tourists are prohibited to visit on when Holy Mass is celebrated. On Sundays at 8:00 AM. 10:00 AM. 12:00 PM. and 6:30 PM. Monday to Saturday at 8:00 AM. and 18:30 PM.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rome - Sant'Agostino Church". Augnet. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. ^ S. Miranda, list of Cardinal Chamberlains of the Holy Roman Church. Retrieved: 2016-03-21.
  3. ^ New Guide of Rome, Naples and Their Environs, By Mariano Vasi and Antonio Nibby, page 105.
  4. ^ John Varriano, Caravaggio: The Art of Realism (University Park, PA: Penn State Press, 2010), pp. 44-46. John T. Spike, Caravaggio: Catalogue of Paintings (New York-London: Abbeville Press, 2010), pp. 148-150.
  5. ^ Restored by Daniele da Volterra, as quoted in A Handbook of Rome (1871), page 128.
  6. ^ "Charity of St Thomas of Villanova". Europeana. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Pope prays at tomb of St. Monica on feast day". Union of Catholic Asian News. August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  8. ^ Fjellbu, A., et al. (eds.) (1955). Nidaros erkebispestol og bispesete 1153 - 1953. Oslo, Land og kirke. Forcella, p. 15, no. 31.
  9. ^ Forcella, p. 103, no. 307.
  10. ^ V. Forcella, Inscrizioni delle chiese e d' altre edifici di Roma, dal secolo XI fino al secolo XVI Volume V (Roma: Fratelli Bencini, 1875), pp. 1-112. [in Italian and Latin]

Bibliography

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  • P Antonino Ronci and D. Torre, S. Agostino in Campo Marzio, Roma (Roma: D. Torre, [1950?]).
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Media related to Sant'Agostino (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Sant'Agnese fuori le mura 		Landmarks of Rome
Sant'Agostino 		Succeeded by
Sant'Anastasia al Palatino

41°54′03″N 12°28′27″E / 41.90083°N 12.47417°E / 41.90083; 12.47417

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