The Santo Stefano Rotondo
We immediately turn right when we exit the Santi Quattro Coronati and face an intersection, which, if we keep walking straight, will take us to the cathedral of Rome: the San Giovanni in Laterano. Unfortunately we can’t visit all Rome has to offer. So instead of going straight, we take a right in the Via de Santo Stefano Rotondo. On our left hand side, away from the road, there’s an early-Christian 4th century church.
| entrance street side and entrance of the Santo Stefano Rotondo entrance mouseover |
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Pictures: (mouseover): TuRaNeO
The Santo Stefano Rotondo is one of the earliest examples of a centred plane, in this case a high, large central room with two ring-shaped aisles around it. The round church has a cross-shaped map.
| 1. Core 2. Interior revolution, as high as the cross arm 3. Exterior revolution 4. Cross arms 5. Court |
| Santo Stefano Rotondo nave |
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Pictures: Luc&Ca
| Santo Stefano Rotondo aisles mouseover |
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Pictures: edk7
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| Santo Stefano Rotondo nave mouseover |
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In the 12th century, Innocentius II added three large ribbed vaults. This likely pertained to the poor condition of the wooden roof.
| Santo Stefano Rotondo aerial picture big format |
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| ribbed vaults central nave side-aisles mouseover |
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In the 16th century, the painter Pomarancio made a number of frescos about tortures on the walls. When looking at these, you feel rather compelled to divert your gaze from these horrors.
| Pomarancio big format fresco |
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Picture: Paul Dykes
| interior Santo Stefano Rotondo wall with frescos about martyrs mouseover |
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