Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella, Rome

History

The original construction on the site was a pagan temple or perhaps a tomb, from around 160 AD. This is believed to have been dedicated to Ceres and Faustina, wife of Antonius Pius, although one early historian, Pompilio Totti, believed that it was dedicated to Bacchus. The site lies on land that was formerly part of the Triopio, an estate owned by the Roman Senator of Greek origin, Herodes Atticus and his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla. It is considered that the temple was also dedicated to her by her husband after her death at the hands of one of his freed slaves. The church was built over the temple in the 10th Century and was dedicated to St. Urban who was Pope from 222-230. Internal frescoes were added in the 12th Century. Often abandoned, the church was eventually restored by Pope Urban VIII and his nephew Cardinal Francesco Barberini, beginning in 1634. Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte was buried there. The columns at the front are in marble bought from Greece by Herodes Atticus. They originally formed part of a portico but walls between them were added during this renovation in order to provide stability.

Even after the renovation, the church’s remote position meant that it was often subject to vandalism and it was eventually abandoned. In 1962 it was annexed by the owner of the neighbouring property. The building was acquired by the city of Rome in 2002 and given to the Diocese of Rome and now serves as a rectory in the parish of San Sebastiano fuori le mura. It underwent restoration in 2010-11. Open to the public only on Sunday mornings prior to restoration, it was still closed to the public in late 2015, with the exception of occasional guided tours.