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San Lorenzo in Lucina St Lawrence's at Lucina

16/a Via in Lucina

Ancient church dedicated to St Lawrence, 3rd century Deacon and martyr.

History

The church was built in the 4th century on the ruins of a house beloning to the Roman lady Lucina, who sheltered Pope St Marcellus (308-309) during Maxentius' persecution. Pope St Damasus was elected here in 366. It is mentioned in a 5th century document as Titulus Lucinae.

It was restored by Pope Benedict II in 685 and by Pope Adrian I in 780.

Pope Paschal II has it completely rebuilt in 1112. It was apparently considerably altered later in the same century, as there is a record of Pope Celestine III reconsecrating it on 26 May 1196.

The interior was restored in 1650 by Cosimo Fanzago, when the church was granted to the Minorites. He also carried out minor restoration on the façade.

The church was formerly served by the Clerics Minor Regular, who were transferred to Sant'Angelo in Pescheria.

Excavations below the church have revealed remains of Roman houses from the reign of Emperor Hadrian and of an early Christian basilica, probably 2nd or 3rd century. Exterior

The façade looks largely as it did after the 1112 rebuilding, as the 1650 restoration did not change much on the exterior. The six Ionic columns in the portico are reused from ancient Roman buildings.

The Romanesque bell-tower was added in the 1112 rebuilding. Interior

In the rebuilding of 1650, the basilical plan was destroyed, and the side naves were replaced by Baroque chapels.

The marble throne of Pope Paschal II stands in the apse.

The coffered ceiling was made in 1857, under Pope Pius IX.

Guido Reni's Christ on the Cross can be seen on the high altar, which also has six Corinthian columns of black marble. Below the altar is an reliquary in which is preserved the gridiron that St Lawrence allegedly was martyred on. The throne behind the altar has an inscription recording the placement here of the relics of St Lawrence by Pope Paschal II.

The Capella Fonseca, fourth on the right-hand side, was designed by Bernini for Gabriele Fonseca, who was Pope Innocent X's (1644-1655) physician. The chapel has some fine busts by Bernini, including a portrait of Fonseca to the left of the altar. The are also fine stuccoes.

The French artist Nicholas Poussin (1594-1665) is buried in the second chapel on the right-hand side, and is commemorated with a monument donated by Chateaubriand in 1830.

The second chapel on the left-hand side has an altarpiece by Carlo Saraceni.

The fifth chapel on the left-hand side was designed and decorated by Simon Vouet. His two paintings depict St Francis.

The baptistry to the left of the entrance was designed in the 17 th century by Sardi.