Santa Maria in Ara Coeli

Title

Santa Maria in Ara Coeli

Subject

The Friars’ Rome

Description

Santa Maria in Aracoeli is a basilica that sits at the top of the Capitoline Hill at the site where the Tiburtine Sybil was said to have announced the coming of Christ. The Mirabilia Urbis Romae, a 12th-century guidebook to Roman monuments, claims that it was built on the foundations of the ancient Temple of Juno. Today, however, what remains is the structure that was built in the 8th century, and then rebuilt in the 12th century, as the monastery and church of S. Maria in Capitolio.

Approaching the building from the west, visitors begin at the base of 124 steps leading up the hill to the church. In the medieval period, a public market was held in front of S. Maria on the uneven expanse of the hill, cascading down into the piazza below, today known as Piazza Aracoeli. The steps had not yet been built during the 12th century, but one can imagine the crowded market sprawling down the hill where the steps exist today. Although there were medieval steps leading up the east side of the hill to S. Maria from the forum, this market ensured that the main entrance to the church was largely from the west, the primary entrance used by visitors today. Arriving at the top of the steps, take a moment to walk around the top of the Capitoline hill, as it provides one of the best panoramic views of Rome.

Abstract

Santa Maria in Aracoeli is a basilica that sits at the top of the Capitoline Hill at the site where Tiburtine Sybil was said to have announced the coming of Christ. The Mirabilia Urbis Romae, a 12th-century guidebook to Roman monuments, claims that it was built on the foundations of the ancient Temple of Juno. Today, however, what remains is the structure that was built in the 8th century, and then rebuilt in the 12th century, as the monastery and church of S. Maria in Capitolio.

Creator

Liza Peterson (2016)

Source

Macadam, Alta. Blue Guide: Rome. London: Somerset Books, 2010.

Benedict. Mirabilia Urbis Romae. Translated and Edited by Francis Morgan Nicholas. New York: Italica Press, 1986.

Krautheimer, Richard. Rome: Profile of a City, 312-1308. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000.

Identifier

santamariaaracoeli_2015

Coverage

700s

Spatial Coverage

Scala dell'Arce Capitolina, 12, 00186 Roma RM

Description

Santa Maria in Aracoeli is a basilica that sits at the top of the Capitoline Hill at the site where the Tiburtine Sybil was said to have announced the coming of Christ. The Mirabilia Urbis Romae, a 12th-century guidebook to Roman monuments, claims that it was built on the foundations of the ancient Temple of Juno. Today, however, what remains is the structure that was built in the 8th century, and then rebuilt in the 12th century, as the monastery and church of S. Maria in Capitolio.

Approaching the building from the west, visitors begin at the base of 124 steps leading up the hill to the church. In the medieval period, a public market was held in front of S. Maria on the uneven expanse of the hill, cascading down into the piazza below, today known as Piazza Aracoeli. The steps had not yet been built during the 12th century, but one can imagine the crowded market sprawling down the hill where the steps exist today. Although there were medieval steps leading up the east side of the hill to S. Maria from the forum, this market ensured that the main entrance to the church was largely from the west, the primary entrance used by visitors today. Arriving at the top of the steps, take a moment to walk around the top of the Capitoline hill, as it provides one of the best panoramic views of Rome.

Creator

Liza Peterson (2016)

Coverage

700s

Source

Macadam, Alta. Blue Guide: Rome. London: Somerset Books, 2010.

Benedict. Mirabilia Urbis Romae. Translated and Edited by Francis Morgan Nicholas. New York: Italica Press, 1986.

Krautheimer, Richard. Rome: Profile of a City, 312-1308. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000.

Geolocation