San Saba: A Spiritual Outpost in the Disabitato
Title
San Saba: A Spiritual Outpost in the Disabitato
Subject
Neighborhoods
Description
Established as a monastery in the 7th century by Palestinian monks who had fled Jerusalem, the current church structure of San Saba dates to the 12th century but has undergone numerous renovations and restorations throughout its history. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, San Saba was isolated, located on a hill called the "Little Aventine" and surrounded by fields and farms in an area called the disabitato. After Pope Lucius II gave the church to the order in 1145 it became monastery for Cluniac Benedictine monks.
While much attention has been given to the Eastern influence present in San Saba's original decoration, elements remain from the later medieval period when the Cluniac monks restored much of the church following damage done in the Norman invasion of 1084. Most noticeably, the doorway and floor, as well as the bishop's throne have cosmatesque decoration - a distinctive, geometric style of tilework. An inscription on the main doorframe attributes these to Giacomo, the father of Cosma, and dates them to 1205. There are also 13th century frescos in what is known as the "fourth nave" - an extra, shorter aisle on the left side of the church - depicting the Madonna and Child and tales from the life of St. Nicholas.
While much attention has been given to the Eastern influence present in San Saba's original decoration, elements remain from the later medieval period when the Cluniac monks restored much of the church following damage done in the Norman invasion of 1084. Most noticeably, the doorway and floor, as well as the bishop's throne have cosmatesque decoration - a distinctive, geometric style of tilework. An inscription on the main doorframe attributes these to Giacomo, the father of Cosma, and dates them to 1205. There are also 13th century frescos in what is known as the "fourth nave" - an extra, shorter aisle on the left side of the church - depicting the Madonna and Child and tales from the life of St. Nicholas.
Abstract
Established as a monastery in the 7th century by Palestinian monks who had fled Jerusalem, the current church structure of San Saba dates to around the 12th century but has undergone numerous building projects and restorations throughout its history. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, San Saba would have been isolated, located on a hill called the "Little Aventine" and surrounded by fields and farms in an area known as the disabitato. After Pope Lucius II gave the church to the order in 1145 it became monastery for Cluniac Benedictine monks.
Creator
Francesca Arcidiacono (2016)
Source
Armellini, M., Le chiese di Roma dal secolo IV al XIX, 2 vols, Vatican city (1891, corrected and augmented by Carlo Cecchelli, 1942). 590. See: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/I/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/churches/_Texts/Armellini/ARMCHI*/2/Ripa.html
Krautheimer, Richard. Rome : Profile of a City, 312-1308. Princeton, N.J. , Chichester: Princeton University Press, 2000.
San Saba, Informational Sign Outside of Chiesa di San Saba .
Krautheimer, Richard. Rome : Profile of a City, 312-1308. Princeton, N.J. , Chichester: Princeton University Press, 2000.
San Saba, Informational Sign Outside of Chiesa di San Saba .
Identifier
sansaba_2015
Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Piazza Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 20, 00153 Roma RM
Description
Established as a monastery in the 7th century by Palestinian monks who had fled Jerusalem, the current church structure of San Saba dates to the 12th century but has undergone numerous renovations and restorations throughout its history. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, San Saba was isolated, located on a hill called the "Little Aventine" and surrounded by fields and farms in an area called the disabitato. After Pope Lucius II gave the church to the order in 1145 it became monastery for Cluniac Benedictine monks.While much attention has been given to the Eastern influence present in San Saba's original decoration, elements remain from the later medieval period when the Cluniac monks restored much of the church following damage done in the Norman invasion of 1084. Most noticeably, the doorway and floor, as well as the bishop's throne have cosmatesque decoration - a distinctive, geometric style of tilework. An inscription on the main doorframe attributes these to Giacomo, the father of Cosma, and dates them to 1205. There are also 13th century frescos in what is known as the "fourth nave" - an extra, shorter aisle on the left side of the church - depicting the Madonna and Child and tales from the life of St. Nicholas.
Creator
Francesca Arcidiacono (2016)Coverage
1100sSource
Armellini, M., Le chiese di Roma dal secolo IV al XIX, 2 vols, Vatican city (1891, corrected and augmented by Carlo Cecchelli, 1942). 590. See: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/I/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/churches/_Texts/Armellini/ARMCHI*/2/Ripa.htmlKrautheimer, Richard. Rome : Profile of a City, 312-1308. Princeton, N.J. , Chichester: Princeton University Press, 2000.
San Saba, Informational Sign Outside of Chiesa di San Saba .