St. THOMAS AI CENCI

S. TOMMASO AI CENCI
Piazza delle Cinque Scole

It appears for the first time in the sources on the year 1114 in the MONTE CENCI area as mentioned in a plaque embedded in a wall in the atrium

Second consecration in 1240, maybe after a restoration

It was known as In Capite Molarum for the nearby mills (molendinis in Latin) along the River Tiber or In Mercatello for the square where the market was held weekly

It was built on the site of the TEMPLE OF CASTOR AND POLLUX, where the two huge statues of Castor and Pollux with horses were found and moved in 1585 on the Capitoline Hill

It was restored in the years 1559/75 for the Cenci family (Rocco Cenci, his nephew Christopher and the latter's son Francis, who in turn was the father and rapist of Beatrice Cenci) who had the patronage since 1554

“The origins of the Cenci family, despite the claims of two thousand years of antiquity, date back reliably to the mid-fourteenth century (...). They were engaged in commercial activities and were in close relationship with the Roman aristocracy. Since this period, progressive acquisitions of properties in the area by members of the family lead to the establishment of an actual fortress, with towers, residential wings and services for common use - a balneum (bathing complex), an oven, a loggia, slaughterhouses and warehouses - the center of which was the church of St. Thomas” (Angela Catalano)

Restored in 1881
It belongs to the Brotherhood of the coachmen

COUNTER FAÇADE
Lunette “Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well” and “Two Evangelists” by an anonymous artist of the end of 1500s just like the other two on either side of the main altar

On the right “Banner with Enthroned Virgin Mary and Child (back) and Our Lady of Sorrows between angels with symbols of the Passion (front)” by an anonymous artist of the beginning of the 1700s

1^st RIGHT - CHAPEL OF THE CROSS
“Wooden crucifix” 1700

MAIN ALTAR
The altar is supported by “Two trapezophori with lions’ feet in white marble”
Round panel in turquoise murra, a very rare marble
Baptismal font resting on “Triangular base with dolphins and acanthus leaves” both of the Augustan period (27 AC/14 BC), and probably found in the area
Tabernacle and balustrade 1626
Altarpiece “Incredulity of St. Thomas” 1612 by Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585/1635), the only authentic work of this painter from Piedmont influenced by Caravaggio

2^nd LEFT - CHAPEL OF St. FRANCIS
Vault “Stories of St. Francis” in 1612 by a late Mannerist anonymous artist influenced by Cavalier d’Arpino
Altarpiece “St. Francis praying in front of the crucifix” by an unknown artist of the end of 1500s

1^st LEFT - CHAPEL OF OUR LADY OF THE BAR
Cenci family patronage since 1453
Above the altar “Nativity of Jesus”, on the left “Nativity of the Virgin Mary” and on the right “Annunciation” 1565 by Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta (1521/80) a pupil of Perin del Vaga for Valerio Cenci
On the pilasters “Prophets” and on the vault “Stories from the life of St. Joachim” by Sermoneta with assistants

SACRISTY
“Cinerary urn” of the first century BC used as a water reservoir