San Cesareo in Palatio or San Caesareo de Appia is a

titular church In the Catholic Church, a titular church is a church in Rome that is assigned to a member of the clergy who is created a cardinal. These are Catholic churches in the city, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Rome, that serve as honorary de ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, near the beginning of the

Appian Way The Appian Way (Latin and Italian language, Italian: ''Via Appia'') is one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient Roman Republic, republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. Its importance is ...

. It is dedicated to Saint

Caesarius of Terracina Saint Caesarius of Terracina (Saint Cesario deacon in Italian) was a Christian martyr. The church of San Cesareo in Palatio in Rome bears his name. Life Caesarius was a deacon of Africa, martyred at Terracina in Italy. The ''"Passio"'' (story of ...

, a 2nd-century deacon and martyr.

History

Origins

San Cesario in Palatino - Achille Pinelli

In the 4th century, Emperor

Valentinian I Valentinian I ( la, Valentinianus; 32117 November 375), sometimes called Valentinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 364 to 375. Upon becoming emperor, he made his brother Valens his co-emperor, giving him rule of the eastern provinces. Vale ...

's daughter was cured at the shrine of Caesarius at

Terracina Terracina is an Italian city and ''comune'' of the province of Latina, located on the coast southeast of Rome on the Via Appia ( by rail). The site has been continuously occupied since antiquity. History Ancient times Terracina appears in anci ...

, the site of his martyrdom. The emperor (who reigned in AD 364–375) then decided to move his relics to Rome. They were taken to a church on the

Palatine Hill The Palatine Hill (; la, Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus; it, Palatino ), which relative to the seven hills of Rome is the centremost, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire." ...

, and when they were later moved to a new church, that church got the name "in Palatio", "at the Palace". It is also known as San Cesareo de Appia. Excavations have revealed a

Roman bath In ancient Rome, (from Greek , "hot") and (from Greek ) were facilities for bathing. usually refers to the large imperial bath complexes, while were smaller-scale facilities, public or private, that existed in great numbers throughout ...

on the site from the 2nd or 3rd century, with a huge black and white mosaic depicting

Neptune Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times ...

and marine creatures, along with foundations of what is thought to be the first church here, built in the 8th century.

Medieval

No written evidence exists for the church's origins; it is first mentioned in the written sources is 1192. In the Middle Ages, the church was part of a hospice and hospital for pilgrims, and had a column in front of it to demonstrate this.

17th century

The present church is the result of reconstruction work undertaken in 1602/3, supervised by the great historian Cardinal

Cesare Baronio Cesare Baronio (as an author also known as Caesar Baronius; 30 August 1538 – 30 June 1607) was an Italian cardinal and historian of the Catholic Church. His best-known works are his ''Annales Ecclesiastici'' ("Ecclesiastical Annals"), whi ...

, who was then titular here and whose house survives. The coat-of-arms of the reigning

Pope Clement VIII Pope Clement VIII ( la, Clemens VIII; it, Clemente VIII; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1592 to his death in March 1605. Born ...

, who was of the

Aldobrandini The House of Aldobrandini is an Italian noble family originally from Florence, where in the Middle Ages they held the most important municipal offices. Now the Aldobrandini are resident in Rome, with close ties to the Vatican. History Their ...

family, was added to the

coffered ceiling A coffer (or coffering) in architecture is a series of sunken panels in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. A series of these sunken panels was often used as decoration for a ceiling or a vault, also c ...

. The central panel of the latter depicts St Caesarius. Though they have now been lost to pollution, at this same period frescoes were added to the facade, which is the work of

Giacomo della Porta Giacomo della Porta (1532–1602) was an Italian architect and sculptor, who worked on many important buildings in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica. He was born at Porlezza, Lombardy and died in Rome. Biography Giacomo Della Porta was b ...

. The

Cosmatesque Cosmatesque, or Cosmati, is a style of geometric decorative inlay stonework typical of the architecture of Medieval Italy, and especially of Rome and its surroundings. It was used most extensively for the decoration of church floors, but was also u ...

pulpit, the balustrades, the altar frontal and

episcopal chair A ''cathedra'' is the raised throne of a bishop in the early Christian basilica. When used with this meaning, it may also be called the bishop's throne. With time, the related term ''cathedral'' became synonymous with the "seat", or principal ...

behind the altar (in pale blue, unusual in Cosmatesque work) may have been brought here at this time from

San Giovanni in Laterano The Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran ( it, Arcibasilica del Santissimo Salvatore e dei Santi Giovanni Battista ed Evangelista in Laterano), also known as the Papa ...

, when work was undertaken at this period in the transepts there, although possibly they came from other churches. The paintings between the windows are also 17th century, by

Cavalier D'Arpino Giuseppe Cesari (14 February 1568 – 3 July 1640) was an Italian Mannerist painter, also named Il Giuseppino and called ''Cavaliere d'Arpino'', because he was created ''Cavaliere di Cristo'' by his patron Pope Clement VIII. He was much patronize ...

and

Cesare Rosetti Cesare Rossetti (circa 1565-after 1623). was an Italian painter active in Rome. He was born in Rome, and a follower of Cavalier D'Arpino, whom he assisted in decorating the Lateran Palace.A Handbook of Rome
by John Murray, 11th edition (1872), page 137.

20th century

Another restoration occurred in the years 1955 to 1963.

John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

was the titular cardinal of this church.

List of Cardinal Deacons

Niccolò Pandolfini Niccolò Pandolfini (1440–1518) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Niccolò Pandolfini was born in Florence in 1440, the son of Giannozzo Pandolfini and Giovanna Valori, who were Florentine patricians. He studied at t ...

''pro hac vice''(6 July 1517 – 17 September 1518) * Louis de Gorrevod ''pro hac vice'' (16 May 1530 – 22 April 1535) *

Bartolomeo Guidiccioni Bartolomeo Guidiccioni (1470 – 4 November 1549) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. He was one of the closest collaborators of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, both as Bishop of Parma and afterwards when he became Pope Paul III. He s ...

''pro hac vice'' (28 January 1540 – 24 September 1543) *

Cristoforo Madruzzo 200px, '' Portrait of Cristoforo Madruzzo'' by Titian (1552). Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo">Museu_de_Arte_de_São_Paulo.html" ;"title="Titian (1552). Museu de Arte de São Paulo">Titian (1552). Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo. ...

''pro hac vice'' (9 January 1545 – 16 January 1560) * Pier Francesco Ferrero ''pro hac vice'' (3 June 1561 – 10 November 1561) *

Archangelo de' Bianchi Arcangelo de' Bianchi (4 October 1516 – 18 January 1580) was an Italians, Italian Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal and Bishop (Catholic Church), bishop.Carlo Gaudenzio Madruzzo Carlo Gaudenzio Madruzzo (1562 – 14 August 1629) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and statesman. Biography Born in the castle of Issogne, Aosta Valley, he was the son of Baron Giovanni Federico Madruzzo and Isabelle of Challant, and ne ...

''pro hac vice'' (1616 – 2 March 1623) *

Gian Giacomo Teodoro Trivulzio Giovanni (Gian) Giacomo Teodoro Trivulzio (1597 – 3 August 1656) was an Italian Cardinal who held several high functions in service of the Spanish Crown. Trivulzio was born and died in Milan, Duchy of Milan. He was the son of Carlo Emanuele ...

(17 December 1629 – 17 October 1644) *

Carlo Rossetti Carlo Rossetti, ca. 1654-1672. Carlo Rossetti (Roscetti) (1614 – 23 November 1681) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal, born of the noble Rossetti family in Ferrara. Earlier in his career he went to London as a secret nuncio on behalf of Pope Urb ...

(28 November 1644 – 18 August 1653) *

Friedrich von Hessen-Darmstadt Frederick of Hesse-Darmstadt (28 February 1616 – 19 February 1682) was a German protestant and soldier who converted to Catholicism, became a cardinal and was appointed Crown-cardinal of Austria. Early life Frederick was born in Darmstadt, Ger ...

(30 March 1661 – 14 November 1667) *

Carlo Barberini Carlo Barberini (1 June 1630 – 2 October 1704) was an Italian Catholic cardinal and member of the Barberini family. He was the grand-nephew of Maffeo Barberini ( Pope Urban VIII) and son of Taddeo Barberini ( Prince of Palestrina). Early life ...

(18 August 1653 – 30 August 1660; 14 November 1667 – 2 December 1675) * Girolamo Casanate (2 December 1675 – 6 April 1682) *

Benedetto Pamphili Benedetto Pamphili (often with the final ''long i'' orthography, Pamphilj) (25 April 1653 – 22 March 1730) was an Italian cardinal, patron of the arts and librettist for many composers. Life Pamphili was born in Rome on 25 April 1653 int ...

(30 April 1685 – 30 September 1686) *

Giovanni Francesco Negroni Giovanni Francesco Negroni (1629 – 1713) was a Catholic cardinal who served as Bishop of Faenza from 1687 to 1697, and as Legate (i.e. Governor) of Bologna from 1687 to 1690. Life Giovanni Francesco Negroni was born in Genua on 3 October 1 ...

(30 September 1686 – 2 January 1696) * Giambattista Spinola (iuniore) ''pro hac vice'' (2 January 1696 – 19 March 1719) * Thomas Philip Wallrad d’Hénin-Liétard d'Alsace-Boussu de Chimay ''pro hac vice'' (16 June 1721 – 2 December 1733) *

Giovanni Battista Spinola Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * '' Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend ...

(2 December 1733 – 23 September 1743) *

Gian Francesco Albani Gian Francesco Albani (26 February 1720 – 15 September 1803) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was a member of the Albani family. Albani was born in Rome, the son of Carlo Albani, Duke of Soriano; his grand-uncle was Pope Clement XI (Gianf ...

(15 May 1747 – 12 February 1759) * Giovanni Costanzio Caracciolo (19 November 1759 – 12 December 1770) * Bernardino De Vecchi (29 May 1775 – 24 December 1775) * Giovanni Cornaro (20 July 1778 – 29 March 1789) * Filippo Campanelli (26 September 1791 – 18 February 1795) *

Giuseppe Albani Giuseppe (Andrea) Albani (13 September 1750 – 3 December 1834) was an Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal. He played an important role in the elections of Leo XII, Pius VIII and Gregory XVI. Biography Albani was born in Rome into a noble fami ...

(29 October 1804 – 2 October 1818) * Tommaso Bernetti (25 June 1827 – 22 January 1844) * Giuseppe Bofondi (14 June 1847 – 2 December 1867) * Ignazio Masotti (13 November 1884 – 31 October 1888) *

Achille Apolloni Achille Apolloni (13 May 1823 – 3 April 1893) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who enjoyed the career of someone from a distinguished family, working in the Roman Curia or the personal service of the pope, and promoted automaticall ...

(27 May 1889 – 3 April 1893) *

Giuseppe Antonio Ermenegildo Prisco Giuseppe Antonio Ermenegildo Prisco (8 September 1833 – 4 February 1923) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as Archbishop of Naples. Biography Prisco was born in Boscotrecase, near Naples. He was educated a ...

(3 December 1896 – 24 March 1898) *

Willem Marinus van Rossum Willem Marinus van Rossum, C.Ss.R. (3 September 1854 – 30 August 1932) was a Dutch prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was made a cardinal in 1911, led the Apostolic Penitentiary from 1915 to 1918, and served as Prefect of the Congr ...

(30 November 1911 – 6 December 1915) * Franziskus Ehrle (14 December 1922 – 31 March 1934) * Domenico Mariani (19 December 1935 – 23 April 1939) * Francesco Bracci (18 December 1958 – 24 March 1967) * Karol Jozef Wojtyła ''pro hac vice'' (29 June 1967 – 16 October 1978) (later

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

) *

Andrzej Maria Deskur Andrzej Maria Deskur (29 February 1924 – 3 September 2011) was President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and a Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal of the Catholic Church.Prokop, Krzysztof Rafał, in Salvador MirandaTh ...

''pro hac vice'' (25 May 1985 – 3 September 2011) *

Antonio Maria Vegliò Antonio Maria Vegliò (born 3 February 1938) is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, who has served as Vatican diplomat and in the Roman Curia. He was President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itine ...

(18 February 2012 – )

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cesareo in Palatio, San 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy

Cesareo Cesareo or Cesáreo is a given name. Notable people with the given name include: *Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós (1879–1968), Argentine painter *Cesáreo Gabaráin (1936–1991), Spanish priest and composer *Cesareo Guillermo (1847–1885), Dominic ...

Churches of Rome (rione Celio)