Santa Maria Antiqua
Rome, Italy
Exterior only
Visible from the street; the inside is private.
Find out more
Santa Maria Antiqua, located at the foot of the Palatine Hill in Rome's Forum Romanum, is the oldest Christian monument in the Roman Forum, built in the fifth century in Byzantine style. The former church served for centuries as the monumental gateway to the imperial palaces of the Palatine. Among its notable features is the earliest Roman depiction of Santa Maria Regina—the Virgin Mary portrayed as a Queen—dating to the sixth century. Now an Italian national heritage site, the building stands as a significant witness to early Christian Rome.
Movement
- Built
- Type
- former church building
- Heritage
- Italian national heritage
- Place
- Rome, Italy
This building on
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Location