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The church of Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella is found on the edge of the Caffarella Park in the southeast of
The original construction on the site was a pagan temple or perhaps a tomb from around 160 AD. It is thought to have been dedicated to Ceres and Faustina, wife of Antoninus Pius, although one early historian, Pompilio Totti, believed that it was dedicated to 
Even after the renovation, the church's remote position meant that it was often subject to vandalism and it was eventually abandoned. In 1962 it was annexed by the owner of the neighbouring property. The building was acquired by the city of Rome in 2002 and given to the Diocese of Rome and now serves as a rectory in the parish of San Sebastiano fuori le mura. It underwent restoration in 2010–11. Open to the public only on Sunday mornings prior to restoration, it was still closed to the public in late 2015, with the exception of occasional guided tours.
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 ...
. It was originally a Roman temple. In the 10th century, the structure was modified and consecrated as a church and it was extensively altered in the 17th century.
History
The original construction on the site was a pagan temple or perhaps a tomb from around 160 AD. It is thought to have been dedicated to Ceres and Faustina, wife of Antoninus Pius, although one early historian, Pompilio Totti, believed that it was dedicated to Bacchus
In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Romans ...
. The site lies on land that was formerly part of the ''Triopio'', an estate owned by the Roman senator of Greek origin, Herodes Atticus
Herodes Atticus ( grc-gre, Ἡρώδης; AD 101–177) was an Athenian rhetorician, as well as a Roman senator. A great philanthropic magnate, he and his wife Appia Annia Regilla, for whose murder he was potentially responsible, commissioned ...
and his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla
Appia Annia Regilla, full name Appia Annia Regilla Atilia Caucidia TertullaPomeroy, ''The murder of Regilla: a case of domestic violence in antiquity'' (Greek: , 125–160), was a wealthy, aristocratic and influential Roman woman, who was a dista ...
. It is thought that the temple was also dedicated to her by her husband after her death at the hands of one of his freed slaves.
The church was built inside the temple in the 10th century and was dedicated to St. Urban who was pope from 222 to 230. Internal frescoes were added in the 12th century. Often abandoned, the church was eventually restored by Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII ( la, Urbanus VIII; it, Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death in July 1644. As po ...
and his nephew Cardinal Francesco Barberini, beginning in 1634. Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte was buried there. The columns at the front are in marble bought from Greece by Herodes Atticus.Parco Regionale Appia Antica, ''Guide ai servizi delle aree naturali protette del Lazio'' They originally formed part of a portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...
but walls between them were added during this renovation in order to provide stability.
Even after the renovation, the church's remote position meant that it was often subject to vandalism and it was eventually abandoned. In 1962 it was annexed by the owner of the neighbouring property. The building was acquired by the city of Rome in 2002 and given to the Diocese of Rome and now serves as a rectory in the parish of San Sebastiano fuori le mura. It underwent restoration in 2010–11. Open to the public only on Sunday mornings prior to restoration, it was still closed to the public in late 2015, with the exception of occasional guided tours.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Urbano alla Caffarella, Rome Roman Catholic churches in Rome Rome Q. XX Ardeatino