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S. Maria in Portico was an important church located in the densely populated area between the Theatre of Marcellus and S. Maria in Cosmedin. Its origins are obscure, but are traditionally linked to the legend of a Marian apparition in the house of St. Galla Patrizia, daughter of the consul Simmachus. A church is said to have been founded on the site of her house during the pontificate of Pope John I (523-526). S. Maria in Portico is first mentioned in 1106 but is older. The altar - a reused Roman funeral altar preserved today in S. Galla, with an inscription by Pope Gregory VII dated 1073 - suggests a foundation of the church at that time. It is a basilica with three naves, divided by arcades on columns intersected by pillars, with a non-protruding transept and a south-facing apse. In the Liber Censuum of Cencio Camerario (1192), it is listed among the richest Roman churches. In 1256, Pope Alexander IV consecrated the church and its altar, depositing relics of various saints. The legend of the miraculous Madonna was associated with the image of the icon, which dates back to the 13th century. The ciborium of the high altar, documented in a drawing, contained a tabernacle in its upper level to store the icon. The church underwent various renovations and restorations over the centuries, especially during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. In 1662, under Pope Alexander VII, the church was demolished. The icon of the Madonna and many relics with their precious reliquaries were transferred to the new church of S. Maria in Campitelli, where they are still venerated today.

Abb. 296-MariainPortico_001.JPGDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Portico, Maggi/Maupin/Losi Plan von 1625, Ausschnitt (nach Ehrle 1915)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 297-MariainPortico_002.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Portico, Grundriss der Basilika um 1657, Zeichnung aus dem Umkreis des Carlo Rainaldi. BAV, Chigi P. VII 10, fol. 100v
Abb. 298-MariainPortico_003.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Portico, ehemaliger Altarblock, heute in S. Galla, Vorderansicht mit Weihinschrift Gregors VII. aus dem Jahr 1073, wiederverwendeter Cippus aus flavischer Zeit (Foto Bartsch 2015)
© Bartsch, Tatjana
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 299-MariainPortico_004.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Portico, ehemaliger Altarblock, heute in S. Galla, Rückseite des Cippus (nach Riccioni, Altari 2005)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 300-MariainPortico_007.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Portico, Erneuerungsentwurf für das Ikonentabernakel, abklappbar auf die Zeichnung des Altarziboriums montiert, um 1600 (Windsor, Royal Library RL 9037)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 301-MariainPortico_008.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Portico, inkrustiertes Kreuz an der Unterseite des Reliquienziboriums (nach Matraia 1627)
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Abb. 302-MariainPortico_009.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Portico, Rekonstruktion des Ikonentabernakels von Bolgia (Bolgia, Icons 2013)
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Abb. 303-MariainPortico_010.JPEGDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Campitelli, sog. Reisealtar des hl. Gregor aus S. Maria in Portico (PM-Lazio)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 304-MariainPortico_011.JPEGDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Campitelli, sog. Reisealtar des hl. Gregor aus S. Maria in Portico, Deckel aus Silberblech mit Kreuzigung (PM-Lazio)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Taf. 29-MariainPortico_005.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Campitelli, Madonnenbild aus S. Maria in Portico, Email auf Kupfer (Archiv des Autors)
© Claussen, Peter Cornelius
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Number in map
66
Church name
S. Maria in Portico
Existing
Coordinates
41.89056, 12.48058
Address
Piazza di Campitelli 9
Rione
Ripa (XII)
Nolli's map #
1040
Chronology
second half 11th cent., second half 13th cent.
Keywords
Theatre of Marcellus, Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Marian apparition, Santa Galla Patrizia, Pope John I, Pope Gregory VII, Liber Censuum, icon, funerary altar, Cencius Camerarius, Pope Alexander VII, Pope Alexander IV, Baroque remake, icon of the Madonna
Research status
Completed
Authors
Claussen, Peter Cornelius
PDF download
2D