Churches Friday: Santa Maria in Aracoeli

The foundation of the church Santa Maria in Aracoeli on the Capitoline Hill is a fascinating story. Augustus, the first Roman Emperor (27 BC - AD 14) - the reigning emperor during the birth of Christ - had a vision of a woman standing on an altar presenting a child saying, this is the altar of the son of god. In hindsight, of course, this is an image of Mary and the Christ child. And on the spot where the vision appear, Augustus built an altar, the "altar of heaven", or the "ara coeli" which gives this church the name.

The columns that line the nave are all different, likely indicating that they are taken from various ancient ruins. One of them is noted, "a cubiculo Augustorum", or "from the chambers of Augustus", connecting this church to Augustus.

The 124 marble steps were added after the Black Death of 1348. If they are too much for your climb, take the more gentle approach through the piazza to the right!

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Are you interested in seeing this?

• Yes!
• If there is time.
• It doesn't really call to me.

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