056.

Chiesa di S. Maria in Cosmedin

The unusual church of S. Maria in Cosmedin occupied parts of two adjacent ancient structures, the columns of one being visible in the interior of the 6th century building, which underwent numerous alterations from the 8th to the 13th centuries. The late Baroque facade visible in this print was added by Sardi in1718 under Pope Clement XI (1700-21), but was removed in the 1890s. The fountain (NN 1087), which Vasi in this view has moved over to the right so as not to hide the facade of the church, was commissioned by the same Pope and designed by Bizzaccheri. The horse trough at the left is also from the early 18th century, but is no longer in this location, having been moved to the Lungotevere Aventino in the 1930s. In the right foreground is the circular temple whose ancient name Vasi wisely does not try to identify "tempio antico" (1), though the popular name at the time was "Tempio di Vesta." Modern scholars are undecided as to the correct ancient name of this temple. Both Vasi and Nolli state that the temple was converted into the church of S. Stefano delle Carozze, and later renamed S. Maria del Sole. The site is on the very edge of the built-up part of the city as can be seen by the farm (Vigna Panfili) to the right of the church, a point that is emphasized by the Fenili (3) (a building for hay storage). The Vicolo della Greca (NN 1085) separates the church and vigna, while Vasi identifies the other road as continuing to S. Paolo fuori le Mura (2). The names Greca and Cosmedin refer to the community of Greeks which settled in this neighborhood in the early medieval period.