Things to do

Chiesa di San Lazzaro in Borgo

Borgo S. Lazzaro, 00136 Roma RM

Rating: 5.0 ★ (1 rating)

Details

Chiesa di San Lazzaro in Borgo offers a remarkable glimpse into Rome's medieval past, nestled at the foot of Monte Mario on a side street of the ancient Via Trionfale. This unassuming Romanesque church, also known as San Lazzaro dei lebbrosi, holds a unique character as a testament to centuries of faith, healing, and pilgrimage, standing quietly amidst more modern structures. It was once a crucial stopping point for pilgrims travelling the Via Francigena into Rome and even served as a ceremonial location for newly elected popes arriving in the city.

Dating back to the late 12th century, the church was initially founded by a French pilgrim cured of leprosy and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, before its name changed in the 15th century due to an adjacent lazar house, believed to be among the first in Italy and Europe. Its simple, austere exterior features a single entrance adorned with the keys of St Peter, a rose window, and two single-lancet windows, topped by a small bellcote. Inside, the nave is separated by arcades on reused ancient columns beneath a trussed wooden roof, reflecting centuries of history and several restorations, including significant works in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Visitors interested in attending mass or inquiring about specific visiting times should contact the church of San Giuseppe al Trionfale.

This historic site appeals particularly to those with a keen interest in medieval history, ancient pilgrimage routes, and papal traditions. It suits visitors seeking a tranquil and reflective experience away from Rome's more bustling attractions, offering a profound sense of continuity with the past. The church's enduring presence and rich narrative make it an ideal destination for history enthusiasts and anyone wishing to connect with a less-explored facet of the Eternal City's heritage.

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https://www.rerumromanarum.com/2022/04/borgo-san-lazzaro.html

Comments

Roberto Cecchini

5 Oct 2024

5.0 ★

You arrive here if you live here or by mistake...but either way, you can't help but be happy, even though its appearance is increasingly less original and more influenced by the present. A narrow street of less than two hundred meters encompasses what remains—and its name is evidence of this—of the ancient village of Vignaioli (wine growers, because they were dedicated to tending the vineyards in the true sense of the word). The first evidence of dwellings at this point, where the Trionfale begins its climb toward Monte Mario, dates back to the Middle Ages and is due to the intense pilgrimage on the Via Francigena, which ended here. A post station was originally built here, on the grounds of one of the many rustic villas surrounding Rome. Starting in the 10th century, an oratory and a sacred shrine were built, right where two centuries later Domenico Garrison (known as Gargonza) decided to build a church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene with an adjoining hospice. This church was perhaps transformed into a lazaretto two centuries later, when the name of the church's patron saint also changed. In the meantime, the church had become very popular, just like the tavern next door. Many popes and emperors passed through and stopped in these parts when making their triumphal entrances into the city, and the church remained active until the last century, when it fell into disgrace and a restoration process had to wait until the late 1900s. In the meantime, however, the city had developed and incorporated the small village, of which some strongly medieval elements remain, in addition to the church. The adjacent citadel of justice compresses its structure, but some characteristic facades of the village remain, while a parking lot was built where the lazaretto once stood in the 1970s (it had all collapsed, and only the front facade remains intact). It feels like you're in some alleyway in Trastevere and is worth a visit if you're in the area. Need some useful info? Leave a like and check out the other reviews.