Basilica of Santa Francesca Romana, Rome, Italy

Origins and Early Development:

The Basilica of Santa Francesca Romana, originally known as Santa Maria Nova, traces its origins to the 8th century, with the establishment of an oratory by Pope Paul I. This early structure was erected in the portico of the Temple of Venus and Roma, a monumental structure in ancient Rome. According to tradition, the site is significant for an event involving Saint Peter and Simon Magus, a legendary figure in early Christianity. Legend has it that Simon Magus, wishing to prove his superiority over the apostles, attempted to levitate before Saint Peter. The apostle, praying for divine intervention, caused Simon to fall to the ground, where he died. It is said that the basalt stones where Peter’s knees touched during his prayer are embedded in the wall of the church’s south transept.

By the 10th century, a church had been established at this site and was dedicated to Santa Maria Nova (“New St. Mary”) to distinguish it from Santa Maria Antiqua, another church within the Roman Forum that had fallen into disrepair. The relics of the ancient church were moved to Santa Maria Nova under Pope Leo. During the second half of the 10th century, the church was enlarged, and later, in the 13th century, Pope Honorius III oversaw its reconstruction. This renovation included the addition of a campanile (bell tower) and an apse, as well as a mosaic of the Maestà, depicting the Madonna enthroned with saints.

Ownership and Renovations:

Since 1352, the church has been under the care of the Olivetans, a religious order. In the 16th century, the church was rededicated to Saint Frances of Rome (Saint Francesca Romana), who was canonized in 1608. Her relics were placed in the church’s crypt. Over the centuries, the church underwent various refurbishments, notably the travertine porch and façade designed by Carlo Lambardi in 1615.

16th to 19th Century Changes:

In the 16th century, the church was rededicated to Saint Francesca Romana. The relics of Saint Frances, as well as those of other saints, were enshrined in the church. This period also marked the completion of significant architectural alterations. Gian Lorenzo Bernini contributed to the creation of the confessio, the enclosed area beneath the altar, between 1638 and 1649. At its center, Bernini designed a sculptural group depicting Saint Frances and an angel. However, the original sculpture was lost during the French occupation of Rome in 1798, and it was replaced in 1866 by a work by sculptor Giosuè Meli.

In 1870, after the unification of Italy and the conquest of Rome, the Olivetans lost much of their property, including the annexed monastery, which was expropriated by the newly formed Italian state. The Antiquarium Forense, an archaeological museum, was created on the site by Giacomo Boni in the early 20th century, using the space previously occupied by the monastery.