St. LUCY AT THE COBBLESTONES

S. LUCIA IN SELCI

Via in Selci 82

End of the fifth century

Diaconia established by Pope St. Symmachus (498/514) and confirmed by Pope Honorius I (625/638) on a site of ancient origin known as in silice for the large flint blocks which used to pave the Clivus Suburanus

A diaconia was an establishment for the care of the poor and distribution of the church's charity in the Middle Ages

In the thirteenth century a monastery was attached to the church and, since 1568, it was granted to the Augustinian cloistered nuns

Rebuilt 1604/16 by Carlo Maderno (1556/1629)

“From 1637 to 1643 the presence in the building of Francesco Borromini is known; as an architect of the convent, he was probably commissioned to restore and redefine as a whole the internal aspect of the church. Specifically his interventions are documented for the Chapel of the Trinity and for the high altar now lost” (Simona Ciofetta)

St. Lucy, according to tradition, was martyred in the year 304 AD under Diocletian (284/305) stabbed in her throat after having suffered terrible tortures

She became the patron saint of eyesight perhaps for the similarity of her name with the word light (Lucia=luce), although a medieval legend has it that she herself uprooted her eyes and sent them to her boyfriend, who had exasperated her with praises on the beauty of her eyes

ATRIUM

Wheel of the exposed, for the babies abandoned in this swivel mechanism that allowed one not to be identified from within

On the left “Portal of the church” with the original doors by Carlo Maderno

CEILING

In the center round painting “Triumph of St. Lucy” by an anonymous artist of the nineteenth-century

COUNTER-FAÇADE

“God the Father” about 1635 by Giuseppe Cesari aka Cavalier d'Arpino (1568/1640) and elegant BALCONY FOR THE CHOIR maybe by Francesco Borromini (1599/1667)

In the first two arches on the right and on the left inscriptions regarding the history of the church surmounted by angels painted with the palms of martyrdom in their hands and dish with the eyes of St. Lucy

1^st RIGHT - ALTAR OF St. LUCY or VANINI ALTAR

“Martyrdom of St. Lucy” 1632 by Giovanni Lanfranco (1582/1647)

2^nd RIGHT - ALTAR OF St. AUGUSTINE or CELSI ALTAR

“Vision of St. Augustine” about 1635 by Andrea Camassei (1602/49)

MAIN ALTAR

Nineteenth century, replacing the one by Borromini

Above the altar “Annunciation” 1606 by Anastasio Fontebuoni (1571/1626)

2^nd RIGHT - ALTAR OF St. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

“St. John the Evangelist gives Communion to the Virgin Mary” about 1635 by Andrea Camassei

Spectacular “Architectural Tabernacle” with golden statuettes maybe designed by Carlo Maderno

1^st RIGHT - LANDI CHAPEL

1637/39 by Francesco Borromini

Above the altar “Holy Trinity and Sts. Augustine and Monica” by Giuseppe Cesari aka Cavalier d'Arpino (1568/1640)

MONASTERY

Nuns' choir with walnut stalls of the seventeenth century and seven paintings of saints about 1618 by Baccio Ciarpi (1574/1654)