Audio Guide Rome – Saint Mary in Cosmedin
Audio Guide Rome Saint Mary in Cosmedin – Back to Rome
The church of Saint Mary, being such a striking building, was defined with the use of the adjective cosmedin (from Greek kosmidion), beautiful.
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In the 8th century, pope Adrian promoted its reconstruction and donated it to the Greek monks who came to live along the Tiber not far from the church.
The Church was built in the 6th century over the remains of the Statio Annonae, one of the food distribution centres of ancient Rome, and of the Templum Herculis Pompeiani, an altar dedicated to Hercules.
History seems to have left proof of its passage here.
Let’s observe, for instance, the wonderful seven floor steeple from the 12th century with its “bifore or trifore windows” and decorated with majolicas. This is a classical example of Roman style. Or again the portico from the 11th century wanted by Pope Callixtus II in 1700.
The Roman style of the Church left its place to the rococo style thanks to the work of Giuseppe Sardi and then went back to the original Roman aspect from 1800 thanks to Giovan Battista Giovenale.
Saint Mary in Cosmedin draws many visitors because of La Bocca della Verità (The Mouth of Truth), an ancient sculpture thought to be a drain cover, located in its portico (the portico is formed by seven arches and windows).
The wooden roof, pavements rich in mosaics, colours and marbles, the Schola Cantorum, the Episcopal Cathedra, are all examples of the Cosmatesque style dating back to the years 1000 – 1100.
The altar
is made in marble and the baldaquin is of Gothic style.
Inside the Sacristy there are still the remains of mosaics representing Epiphany dating back to the Year 705.
The church also witnessed important events such as the election of three Popes: Gelasius II, Celestine III and the antipope Benedict XIII.
Saint Mary in Cosmedin
