Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia
Title
Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia
Description
The Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia, or the first monumental hospital built in Rome, was established under Pope Innocent III in the early 13th century CE. The complex got its name from its location at the site of the former Schola Saxonum, which was created under Saxon rule during the 8th century BCE. Santo Spirito was one of three of Innocent’s hospitals that he built during his papacy; Innocent also commissioned the hospitals of Sant’Urbano ai Pantani and San Tommaso in Formis. It is important to remember that Santo Spirito was a complex. Other than the main, one-floor infirmary hall, it also included the Palazzo del Commendatore, a tall building connected to the hospital that housed the people who ran the complex.
In addition, the Church of Santo Spirito, which was dedicated to Santa Maria, was also part of the complex. The hospital was run by the Hospitallers confraternity, which was a group that, along with working at the complex, also gave assistance to needy pilgrims, fighters in holy lands, and even helped to protect papal property. In return for their services the Hospitallers received special privileges from the papacy.
The hospital hall built by Innocent III no longer exists, today as it was demolished in the late 15th century when Pope Sixtus IV rebuilt the Santo Spirito complex. Sixtus commissioned a larger infirmary hall, called the Sistine Ward, in place of the old one. The Sistine Ward is still visible on the eastern side of the modern-day complex. In addition to the Sistine Ward, Sixtus also built a library, an impressive octagonal tower, and cloisters as part of the new complex. Sixtus’s construction solidified the Borgo area as the official home and seat of power of the papacy.
To strengthen papal power, which was waning in 13th century Rome, Innocent III changed several government conventions: along with tying himself closely with multiple confraternities and monastic orders, he also reduced the number of allotted Senate councilors. Innocent’s hospitals served as signs of papal power and even forms of protection for the papacy’s rule. Innocent was able to show off the wealth and influence of the papacy as well as his own piety through his hospital complexes. These large, impressive constructions were meant to reinforce the papacy’s authority and might in Rome.
In addition, the Church of Santo Spirito, which was dedicated to Santa Maria, was also part of the complex. The hospital was run by the Hospitallers confraternity, which was a group that, along with working at the complex, also gave assistance to needy pilgrims, fighters in holy lands, and even helped to protect papal property. In return for their services the Hospitallers received special privileges from the papacy.
The hospital hall built by Innocent III no longer exists, today as it was demolished in the late 15th century when Pope Sixtus IV rebuilt the Santo Spirito complex. Sixtus commissioned a larger infirmary hall, called the Sistine Ward, in place of the old one. The Sistine Ward is still visible on the eastern side of the modern-day complex. In addition to the Sistine Ward, Sixtus also built a library, an impressive octagonal tower, and cloisters as part of the new complex. Sixtus’s construction solidified the Borgo area as the official home and seat of power of the papacy.
To strengthen papal power, which was waning in 13th century Rome, Innocent III changed several government conventions: along with tying himself closely with multiple confraternities and monastic orders, he also reduced the number of allotted Senate councilors. Innocent’s hospitals served as signs of papal power and even forms of protection for the papacy’s rule. Innocent was able to show off the wealth and influence of the papacy as well as his own piety through his hospital complexes. These large, impressive constructions were meant to reinforce the papacy’s authority and might in Rome.
Creator
Jordan Fues (2021)
Source
Keyvanian, Carla. Hospitals and Urbanism in Rome, 1200-1500. Edited by Walter S. Melion. Leiden: Brill, 2015.
“Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia.” Wikipedia, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ospedale_di_Santo_Spirito_in_Sassia
Picardi, Nicola. “Birth in Rome of the First Hospital in the History of Europe. Further Development of the Roma’s Hospitals.” (Italy: Annali Italiani di Chirurgia, Edizione Digitale, 2010), 329-335. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c097/6b48404fdb4ed1408529cbf524024e03a605.pdf
“Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia.” Wikipedia, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ospedale_di_Santo_Spirito_in_Sassia
Picardi, Nicola. “Birth in Rome of the First Hospital in the History of Europe. Further Development of the Roma’s Hospitals.” (Italy: Annali Italiani di Chirurgia, Edizione Digitale, 2010), 329-335. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c097/6b48404fdb4ed1408529cbf524024e03a605.pdf
Date
1200
Identifier
ospedaledisanto_2019
Spatial Coverage
Via dei Penitenzieri, 12, 00193 Roma RM
Description
The Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia, or the first monumental hospital built in Rome, was established under Pope Innocent III in the early 13th century CE. The complex got its name from its location at the site of the former Schola Saxonum, which was created under Saxon rule during the 8th century BCE. Santo Spirito was one of three of Innocent’s hospitals that he built during his papacy; Innocent also commissioned the hospitals of Sant’Urbano ai Pantani and San Tommaso in Formis. It is important to remember that Santo Spirito was a complex. Other than the main, one-floor infirmary hall, it also included the Palazzo del Commendatore, a tall building connected to the hospital that housed the people who ran the complex.In addition, the Church of Santo Spirito, which was dedicated to Santa Maria, was also part of the complex. The hospital was run by the Hospitallers confraternity, which was a group that, along with working at the complex, also gave assistance to needy pilgrims, fighters in holy lands, and even helped to protect papal property. In return for their services the Hospitallers received special privileges from the papacy.
The hospital hall built by Innocent III no longer exists, today as it was demolished in the late 15th century when Pope Sixtus IV rebuilt the Santo Spirito complex. Sixtus commissioned a larger infirmary hall, called the Sistine Ward, in place of the old one. The Sistine Ward is still visible on the eastern side of the modern-day complex. In addition to the Sistine Ward, Sixtus also built a library, an impressive octagonal tower, and cloisters as part of the new complex. Sixtus’s construction solidified the Borgo area as the official home and seat of power of the papacy.
To strengthen papal power, which was waning in 13th century Rome, Innocent III changed several government conventions: along with tying himself closely with multiple confraternities and monastic orders, he also reduced the number of allotted Senate councilors. Innocent’s hospitals served as signs of papal power and even forms of protection for the papacy’s rule. Innocent was able to show off the wealth and influence of the papacy as well as his own piety through his hospital complexes. These large, impressive constructions were meant to reinforce the papacy’s authority and might in Rome.
Creator
Jordan Fues (2021)Date
1200Coverage
1200sSource
Keyvanian, Carla. Hospitals and Urbanism in Rome, 1200-1500. Edited by Walter S. Melion. Leiden: Brill, 2015.“Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Sassia.” Wikipedia, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ospedale_di_Santo_Spirito_in_Sassia
Picardi, Nicola. “Birth in Rome of the First Hospital in the History of Europe. Further Development of the Roma’s Hospitals.” (Italy: Annali Italiani di Chirurgia, Edizione Digitale, 2010), 329-335. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c097/6b48404fdb4ed1408529cbf524024e03a605.pdf