| Basilica di Santa Maria in Domnica | |
|---|---|
Basilica Minore di Santa Maria in Domnica alla Navicella(in Italian) | |
 Façade of Santa Maria in Domnica. | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| 41°53′4.8″N12°29′44.1″E / 41.884667°N 12.495583°E /41.884667; 12.495583 | |
| Location | Via della Navicella 10,Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Tradition | Roman Rite |
| Religious institute | Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo |
| Website | Official Website |
| History | |
| Status | Minor basilica,titular church,parish church |
| Dedication | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Early Christian,Renaissance,Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 5th century AD |
| Clergy | |
| Cardinal protector | Marcello Cardinal Semeraro |
TheMinor Basilica of St. Mary in Domnica alla Navicella (Basilica Minore di Santa Maria in Domnica alla Navicella), or simplySanta Maria in Domnica orSanta Maria alla Navicella, is aRoman Catholicbasilica inRome,Italy, dedicated to theBlessed Virgin Mary and active in local charity according to its long tradition. It is one of the best examples of theCarolingian Renaissance in Rome.[1] It has been the titular church of CardinalMarcello Semeraro since 28 November 2020.
The appellation "in Domnica" has been differently explained. One interpretation is the derivation from "dominicum" ("of the Lord"), and by extension "church".[2] A second interpretation is that the name derives from the Latin phrasein dominica (praedia) ("on Imperial property").[3] One other possible explanation is that it is almost the only one from the lesser churches in Rome that serves as astation church on a Sunday, namely the second Sunday of Lent[4] (dominica means "Sunday" in Latin; the other such church isSan Pancrazio which serves as station for Low Sunday), so given the huge number of churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin this might have been chosen as identifier.
Another interpretation is that it refers to the name ofCyriaca, aChristian woman who resided nearby and whose name denotes "belonging to the Lord": "Dominica" in Latin.[5] According to this tradition, Cyriaca was a wealthy widow, whose home was used as a meeting-place for some of the first Christians of Rome.Saint Lawrence used to distribute alms here.[4] After his death, Cyriaca arranged the burial in her family catacomb cemetery, where the basilicaSan Lorenzo fuori le Mura now stands.[6]
The appellation "alla Navicella" denotes "near the little ship", and refers to the sculpture of a Roman ship[7] that has been in this location since ancient times, possibly as a votive offering at an ancient temple.Pope Leo X turned it into a fountain (Fontana della Navicella) in front of the church.
The basilica was built in ancient times, close to the barracks of the Fifth Cohort of the RomanVigiles on theCaelian Hill. It is mentioned in the records of a synod ofPope Symmachus in AD 499. In 678, it was one of seven churches assigned to deacons byPope Agatho.[7] The basilica was rebuilt from 818 to 822 byPope Paschal I, and included mosaic decoration.Pope Paschal I is credited withRome's early 9th century age of renovation and artistic splendor.
Benedict, legate to theLatin Empire (1205–1207), began his career as a cardinal in Santa Maria in 1200–1201. A smallOlivetan monastery was established here in 1340.[7]
TheMedici family extensively modified the interior in the 16th century, because some of them were the cardinal holders of the archdeaconate through much of that century.[8]Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici (1488), was followed by his first cousin,Giulio di Giuliano de 'Medici, (1513).Giovanni di Cosimo I de' Medici became cardinal-deacon at the age of 17 in 1560, but died of malaria in 1562. He was followed by his brotherFerdinando I de' Medici, who later becameGrand Duke of Tuscany.
In 1488,Lorenzo de' Medici prevailed on his relativePope Innocent VIII to name his son,Giovanni Cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Domnica when he was age 13,[9] although he was not allowed to wear the insignia until three years later. In 1513, shortly before he becamePope Leo X, Cardinal de' Medici, in conjunction withAndrea Sansovino, added the facade portico with Tuscan columns and the fountain.
The facade of the basilica, attributed to Sansovino, is in the Renaissance style, and has a porch with five arches separated bytravertinepilasters, with two square and one round window. Thetympanum has the coat of arms ofPope Innocent VIII in the center, and that of cardinals Giovanni and Ferdinando de' Medici on the sides. The inconspicuousbell tower houses a bell from 1288.
The interior of the basilica retains its 9th century plan, and consists of anave and two lateral aisles of equal length and separated by 18 granite columns which werespolia from an ancient temple and crowned withCorinthian capitals. The wall above the windows was frescoed byPerin del Vaga, based on designs ofGiulio Romano.
The nave has frescos byLazzaro Baldi. Thecoffered ceiling, donated by Ferdinando I de' Medici, has the Medici coat of arms in the center, with symbolic representations ofNoah's Ark andSolomon's Temple.
Thetriumphal arch at the apse is flanked by two porphyry columns. The mosaics of theapse from the 9th century, were commissioned byPope Paschal I[7] and depict Christ with two angels, and thetwelve Apostles, withMoses andElijah shown underneath. In thesemi-dome, Pope Paschal (with asquare halo) sitting at the foot of theBlessed Virgin Mary, vested as a Byzantine noblewoman, seated on a throne with the Christ Child, and surrounded by a multitude of angels.
Media related toSanta Maria in Domnica at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Santa Maria in Cosmedin | Landmarks of Rome Santa Maria in Domnica | Succeeded by Santa Maria in Ara Coeli |
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