church architecture | Latin Rocks

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The Travertine Facade of Santa Susanna: A direct view of the Late Renaissance-Early Baroque facade designed by Carlo Maderno, situated in the Piazza of San Bernardo. The structure is composed of two levels of light-colored Travertine marble, punctuated by massive Corinthian columns that appear deeply embedded in the wall as if the stone is pushing out around them. Statues of saints stand in niches on both levels, and a large triangular pediment crowns the top of the central nave. To the right, the lower brick exterior of the convent complex extends toward the street. The design serves as a historical and artistic anchor for the Lenten station, acting as a precursor to Maderno's work on the facade of St. Peter's Basilica.

Santa Susanna - Saturday, Third Week of Lent

Santa Susanna is a lovely church located very close to the Termini train station, just north of the Piazza della Repubblica. The marvelous Late Renaissance-Early Baroque exterior boasts a beautiful facade made of local Travertine marble. The massive, Corinthian columns of the facade appear embedded in the wall. The church is a refurbishment of a titulus church. Santa Susanna was martyred under Diocletian. Regrettably, the church is currently closed with no signs of reope

Rick Bessey

17 hours ago2 min read

A detailed view of the naturalistic 4th-century mosaic in the apse, dated to 390. Christ sits enthroned at the center, holding an open book and surrounded by the apostles who look around naturally rather than staring forward. The setting is not abstract gold but the city of Jerusalem, complete with a large jeweled cross on Calvary and the four symbols of the Evangelists in a cloudy sky above.

Santa Pudenziana - Tuesday, Third Week of Lent

On Tuesday, the Third Week of Lent we turn to one of the oldest churches in Rome, constructed between 140 and 155 AD. Santa Pudenziana is dedicated to one of the daughters of Pudens, a Roman who was converted and subsequently baptized by Peter in Rome. Typical of the oldest churches in Rome, this is a titular church, meaning it was built over the remains of a Roman home.

Rick Bessey

5 days ago2 min read