The Basilica of Saint Augustine in Camp Martius (; ), commonly known as Basilica of Saint Augustine is a

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

titular Titular may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Title character in a narrative work, the character referred to in its title Religion * Titular (Catholicism), a cardinal who holds a titulus, one of the main churches of Rome ** Titular bisho ...

minor basilica Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...

in the

Campus Martius The Campus Martius (Latin for 'Field of Mars'; Italian: ''Campo Marzio'') was a publicly owned area of ancient Rome about in extent. In the Middle Ages, it was the most populous area of Rome. The IV rione of Rome, Campo Marzio, which covers ...

area of

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Dedicated to

Saint Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosop ...

it serves as the

motherhouse A motherhouse or mother house is the principal house or community for a Catholic religious community.YourDictionaryMotherhouse/ref> One example is the Missionaries of Charity's motherhouse in Kolkata, which functions as the congregation's headquart ...

of the

Augustinian Friars The Order of Saint Augustine (), abbreviated OSA, is a mendicant religious order of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1244 by bringing together several eremitical groups in the Tuscany region who were following the Rule of Saint Augustine ...

. First conceived in 1286, the current basilica (completed in 1483) is known for its

Renaissance architecture Renaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 16th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of Ancient Greece, ancient Greek and ...

style; housing artwork by Roman artisans

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the fin ...

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of compos ...

, and

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (February 8, 1591 – December 22, 1666),Miller, 1964 better known as (il) Guercino (), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna. The vigorous na ...

. It is also the burial site of

Saint Monica Monica ( – 387) was an early North African Christian saint and the mother of Augustine of Hippo. She is remembered and honored in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, albeit on different feast days, for her outstanding Christian virtues, partic ...

, the mother of Augustine.

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

raised the shrine to the status of

Minor Basilica Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...

via decree on 29 October 1999.

History

The former parish of Saint Tryphon in Posterula Church was built at this site in 700 A.D. and was originally dedicated to the martyr Saint Tryphon of Campsada. The

Order of Saint Augustine The Order of Saint Augustine (), abbreviated OSA, is a mendicant order, mendicant catholic religious order, religious order of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1244 by bringing together several eremitical groups in the Tuscany region who ...

was founded at the Basilica of

Santa Maria del Popolo The Parish Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo () is a titular church and a minor basilica in Rome run by the Augustinian order. It stands on the north side of Piazza del Popolo, one of the most famous squares in the city. The church is hemmed in b ...

in Rome in 1244. The Augustinian friars soon desired to have their main monastery and church closer to

Vatican City Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...

. The Roman nobleman Egidio Lufredi donated land near here in

Campo Marzio Campo Marzio () is the 4th of Rome, Italy, identified by the initials R. IV. It belongs to the Municipio I and covers a smaller section of the area of the ancient Campus Martius. The logo of this rione is a silver crescent on a blue background. ...

to the Augustinian friars in 1286. On 20 February 1287

Pope Honorius IV Pope Honorius IV (born Giacomo Savelli; — 3 April 1287) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 April 1285 to his death on 3 April 1287. His election followed the death of Pope Martin IV and was notable for its sp ...

granted the St. Tryphon in Posterula Church to the Augustinian friars. The first building structure was commissioned by

Pope Boniface VIII Pope Boniface VIII (; born Benedetto Caetani; – 11 October 1303) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 December 1294 until his death in 1303. The Caetani, Caetani family was of baronial origin with connections t ...

, was built here by the Augustinian friars in 1296-1446 right next to the St. Tryphon in Posterula Church. The construction of the second (current) basilica began in 1479. It was commissioned by

Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV (or Xystus IV, ; born Francesco della Rovere; (21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 until his death in 1484. His accomplishments as pope included ...

; designed by architect

Baccio Pontelli Baccio Pontelli (c. 1449 – c. 1494) was an Italian architect and worker in wood inlays, who designed the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Baccio is an abbreviation of Bartolomeo. Pontelli was born in Florence; in 1459 his father declared he was ...

(who also designed the Sistine Chapel); and funded by Cardinal

Guillaume d'Estouteville Guillaume d'Estouteville (c. 1412–1483) was a French aristocrat of royal blood who became a leading bishop (Catholic Church), bishop and cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal. He held a number of Church offices simultaneously. He conducted th ...

. Its construction was completed in 1483. Giacomo di Pietrasanta (?-1495) built its façade by using travertine salvaged from the ruins of the

Colosseum The Colosseum ( ; , ultimately from Ancient Greek word "kolossos" meaning a large statue or giant) is an Ellipse, elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphi ...

. Its façade reads the following: Its first restoration was completed in 1763 by

Luigi Vanvitelli Luigi Vanvitelli (; 12 May 1700 – 1 March 1773), known in Dutch as (), was an Italian architect and painter. The most prominent 18th-century architect of Italy, he practised a sober classicising academic Late Baroque style that made an ea ...

; its second restoration was completed in 1870; and its most recent restoration occurred in 1998–2000. The title of Sant'Agostino has been held by Cardinal

Jean-Pierre Ricard Jean-Pierre Ricard (born 26 September 1944) is a French prelate of the Catholic Church who was Archbishop of Bordeaux from 2001 to 2019. He has been a cardinal since 2006. He was previously Bishop of Montpellier for five years and before that ...

since 2006. It is the

station church Station days were days of fasting in the early Christian Church, associated with a procession to certain prescribed churches in Rome, where the Mass and Vespers would be celebrated to mark important days of the liturgical year. Although other citi ...

of the first Saturday in

Lent Lent (, 'Fortieth') is the solemn Christianity, Christian religious moveable feast#Lent, observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring Temptation of Christ, t ...

Artwork

The 1606 painting '' Madonna of Loreto'' (also known as the Madonna of the Pilgrims) by

Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the fina ...

is located in the first chapel on the left. The heirs of Ermete Cavalletti (?-1602) bought the Pieta Chapel on 4 September 1603 and soon commissioned Caravaggio to paint the Madonna for their family's chapel. It was hung in 1606 at the altar in the Cavalletti Chapel (former Pieta Chapel) in place of a Pieta that was sold to

Pope Paul V Pope Paul V (; ) (17 September 1552 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death, in January 1621. In 1611, he honored Galileo Galilei as a mem ...

(formerly Cardinal Camillo Borghese). The 1512

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

'' Prophet Isaiah'' by

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...

is located on the third pilaster of the left nave. It was part of the funerary monument of Johannes Goritz (1455–1527; also known as Janus Corycius). Isaiah holds a Hebrew scroll stating: "Open the doors, so that the people who believe may enter." (Isaiah 26:2–3) The statue ''Saint Anne and Virgin with Child'' (1512) by

Andrea Sansovino Andrea dal Monte Sansovino or Andrea Contucci del Monte San Savino (1529) was an Italian sculptor active during the High Renaissance. His pupils include Jacopo Sansovino (no relation). Biography He was the son of Domenico Contucci of Monte ...

is located below Raphael's ''Isaiah''. The 1521 sculpture ''Madonna del Parto'' (Our Lady of Childbirth) by

Jacopo Sansovino Jacopo d'Antonio Sansovino (2 July 1486 – 27 November 1570) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect, best known for his works around the Piazza San Marco in Venice. These are crucial works in the history of Venetian Renaissance arc ...

is based, according to a legend, on an ancient statue of Agrippina holding

Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68) was a Roman emperor and the final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his ...

in her arms, is reputed by tradition to work miracles in childbirth. It is located in a niche to the right of the entrance and is surrounded by thank-offerings of flowers and candles. The 1588 frescoes of ''St. John the Baptist'' and ''St. John the Evangelist'' by

Avanzino Nucci Avanzino Nucci (c. 1552–1629) was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance period. Biography He was born in Gubbio and died in Rome. He trained with Niccolò Circignani (il Pomarancio). Bernardino Gagliardi was one of his pupils. His painti ...

are also here. The 1616 ceiling fresco ''Assumption of Mary'' and three paintings by

Giovanni Lanfranco Giovanni Lanfranco (26 January 1582 – 30 November 1647) was an Italian Baroque painter. Biography Giovanni Gaspare Lanfranco was born in Parma, the third son of Stefano and Cornelia Lanfranchi, and was placed as a page in the household of Coun ...

are located in the Buongiovanni Chapel (in the left transept). The 1600s painting ''Saints Augustine, John the Evangelist and Jerome'' by

Guercino Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (February 8, 1591 – December 22, 1666),Miller, 1964 better known as (il) Guercino (), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna. The vigorous n ...

is also here. The sculpture ''St. Thomas of Villanova Distributing Alms'' by

Melchiorre Cafà Melchiorre Cafà (1636–1667), born Melchiorre Gafà and also known as Caffà, Gafa, Gaffar or Gafar, was a Maltese Baroque sculptor. Cafà began a promising career in Rome but this was cut short by his premature death following a work acciden ...

and completed by his mentor

Ercole Ferrata Ercole Ferrata (1610 – 10 July 1686) was an Italian sculptor of the Roman Baroque. Biography A native of Pellio Inferiore, near Como, Ferrata initially apprenticed with Alessandro Algardi, and became one of his prime assistants. When hi ...

is located in the St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel (left end of transept). The etching '' Charity of St Thomas of Villanova'' by Cafà himself illustrates this same sculpture. The 1628 High Altar was designed by Orazio Turriani. It was previously (but erroneously) thought that

Gian Lorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italians, Italian sculptor and Italian architect, architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prom ...

had designed it. Its nave ceiling fresco was completed in 1868 by

Pietro Gagliardi Pietro Gagliardi (9 August 1809 – 19 September 1890) was an Italian painter and architect, who decorated many churches and palaces in Rome and throughout Italy. Biography Gagliardi was born in Rome on 9 August 1809 to Francesco (of Campania ...

; who also made the 5 prophet pillar frescoes (including ''Ezekiel''), 6 Old Testament women & 12 scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0989 - St. Augustine Basilica (1483) - Cavalletti Chapel - Madonna of Loreto (the Pilgrims) (1606) by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610).jpg, Painting '' Madonna of Loreto'' (1606) by

in the Cavalletti Chapel File:Caravaggio_—_Madonna_di_Loreto.jpg, Painting Madonna of Loreto (1606) by

File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0977 - St. Augustine Basilica (1463) - Dome ceiling - Jesus Christ & the Twelve Apostles.jpg, Dome ceiling painting ''Jesus Christ & the Twelve Apostles'' File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0988 - St. Augustine Basilica (1483) - Nave ceiling fresco (1868) by Pietro Gagliardi (1809-1890).jpg, upright=0.68, Nave ceiling fresco (1868) by

File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0996 - St. Augustine Basilica (1492) - Ezekiel (1860s) by Pietro Gagliardi (1809-1890).jpg, Pillar fresco ''Ezekiel'' (1860s) by

File:S Agostino - al pilastro Isaia (Raffaello, da Volterra ecc) e sotto s Anna ecc (Sansovino) A100016.JPG, Pillar fresco '' Prophet Isaiah'' (1512) by

and statue ''Saint Anne and Virgin with Child'' (1512) by

File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0993 - St. Augustine Basilica (1483) - Prophet Isaiah (1512) by Raphael (1483-1520).jpg, Pillar fresco '' Prophet Isaiah'' (1512) by

File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0994 - St. Augustine Basilica (1483) - John the Baptist (1588) by Avanzino Nucci (1552-1629).jpg, Fresco ''John the Baptist'' (1588) by

File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0995 - St. Augustine Basilica (1483) - John the Evangelist (1588) by Avanzino Nucci (1552-1629).jpg, upright=0.68, Fresco ''John the Evangelist'' (1588) by

File:2022-05-06 Rome - 0997 - St. Augustine Basilica (1483) - Madonna del Parto (Our Lady of Childbirth) (1521) by Jacopo Sansovino (1486-1570).jpg, Statue ''Madonna del Parto (Our Lady of Childbirth)'' (1521) by

File:Sant'Agostino (Roma) – San Tommaso da Villanova, Melchiorre Cafà.jpg, Statue ''St. Thomas of Villanova Distributing Alms'' (1600s) by

File:Incoronazione della Vergine con i santi Agostino e Guglielmo - Lanfrano.jpg, Painting ''Coronation of the Virgin with Saints Augustine and William'' (1619) by

Tombs

St. Tryphon of Campsada died in AD 250 and is located under the High Altar.

died in 387. Her tomb was transferred here from the Santa Aurea Church in Ostia Antica, Italy on 11 April 1424. Her sarcophagus was designed by Isaia da Pisa (1410–1464) in 1455, and is now located in the Chapel of Saint Monica (left of the apse). Norways's Archbishop Olav Trondsson died on 25 November 1474. His tombstone reads: "CVI DEDERAT SACRAM MERITO NORVEGIA SEDEM HIC TEGIT OLAVI FRIGIDVS OSSA LAPIS" (Here a cold stone covers the bones of Olav, to whom Norway rightly gave the holy chair). Cardinal

died on 22 January 1483. Cardinal

Giuseppe Renato Imperiali Giuseppe Renato Imperiali (1 May 1651 – 18 February 1737) was an Italian cardinal, and known as an avid bibliophile. Biography He was born in Francavilla Fontana in Apulia, in the Kingdom of Naples, into an aristocratic family which had come ...

died on 18 February 1737.

Pietro Bracci Pietro Bracci (June 16, 1700 –1773) was an Italian sculptor working in the Late Baroque manner. He is best known for carving the marble sculpture of Oceanus at the center of Rome's Trevi Fountain, based on a plaster '' modello'' by Giovann ...

designed and sculpted his polychrome tomb in 1741. The inscriptions found in the basilica have been collected and published by Vincenzo Forcella.V. Forcella, ''Inscrizioni delle chiese e d' altre edifici di Roma, dal secolo XI fino al secolo XVI'' Volume V (Roma: Fratelli Bencini, 1875), pp. 1-112. n Italian and Latin

List of Cardinal—Protectors

Pope Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V (; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death, in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order, where h ...

(1585–1590) established the

titular church In the Catholic Church, a titular church () is a Churches in Rome, church in Rome that is assigned to a member of the Holy orders in the Catholic Church, clergy who is created a Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal. These are Catholic churches in ...

of a

cardinal priest A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. As titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, they serve as advisors to the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. Ca ...

in April 1587.

Access

The basilica is open daily to the general public with some restrictions: * 7:15 AM—12:00 PM and 4:00—7:30 PM. * Roaming tourists are prohibited to visit on when

Holy Mass The Mass is the central liturgical service of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, in which bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ. As defined by the Church at the Council of Trent, in the Mass "the same Christ ...

is celebrated. On Sundays at 8:00 AM. 10:00 AM. 12:00 PM. and 6:30 PM. Monday to Saturday at 8:00 AM. and 18:30 PM.

References

Bibliography

* P Antonino Ronci and D. Torre, ''S. Agostino in Campo Marzio, Roma'' (Roma: D. Torre, 950?.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Agostino Buildings and structures completed in 1483 Churches completed in the 1480s Basilica churches in Rome Titular churches 15th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Renaissance architecture in Rome Churches of Rome (rione Sant'Eustachio) Order of St. Augustine Augustinian churches in Italy Luigi Vanvitelli buildings