S. Cecilia in Trastevere

The original church built on this spot was erected in the 5^th century over the home of St. Cecilia and her husband, Valerianus. After being led to her remains through a dream, Pope Paschal I had St. Cecilia moved from the catacombs where she was found to the newly renovated church in the 9^th century. At that time, mosaics were put up in the apse. These mosaics were probably designed by Eastern artists who had moved to Rome during a period of iconoclasm. This is evidenced by Christ’s Greek blessing gesture. The mosaic features St. Cecilia presenting Pope Paschal I who is presenting the church to God. On the other side, St. Agnes is presenting Cecilia’s husband to God.

The portico and campanile were added in the 12^th century. In the 13^th century, Pietro Cavallini was commissioned to paint frescoes on the inside walls of the nave. Many of these frescoes have since been removed or destroyed but the Last Judgement still decorates the entrance wall. In 1599 the titular cardinal commissioned Stephano Maderno to sculpt St. Cecilia’s corpse in marble. This sculpture is displayed on top of her tomb in the confessio under the altar. The church underwent massive Baroque redesign in 1725.

S. Pietro in Montorio (St. Peter on the Golden Mount)

As early as the 9th century, a church was built on this spot to mark where it was believed that St. Peter was crucified. We now know this to be a mistake which was made based on the misreading of a document. A new church was built in the late 15th century in early Renaissance style by Franciscans with the support of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, and the architect was Baccio Pontelli. The church, which sits next to the current Spanish embassy, was restored in 1849.

The first side chapel on the right contains the fresco, The Flagellation of Christ by Sebastiano del Piombo. Sebastiano was a contemporary of Michelangelo and paints the human form in a similar, sculptural and muscular style. The second chapel on the left depicts the ecstasy of St. Francis and was designed by Gianlorenzo Bernini. This piece is known for its dramatic use of light and dark or chiaroscuro.