Rome - Santa Sabina 
Both externally and internally the church of Santa Sabina preserved the character of an early Christian basilica. Built by Peter of Illyria in 425-432 over the house of a Christian woman named Sabina, it was embellished with marble by Pope Eugenius II in 824. In 1222 Pope Honorius II presented the church to the Dominicans. Adjoining the church is a Dominican monastery in which St Thomas Aquinus was a monk, with a beautiful Romanesque cloister. From the terrace next to the church there is a magnificent view across the Tiber towards Trastevere, Piazza Venezia and the Vatican City.
|
Must-see attractions nearby:
|
Things to See
Christian Art
The central doorway in the porch has the oldest carved wooden doors in Christian art (432), of African cedar-wood with delicate and expressive reliefs by unknown artists depicting Old and New Testament scenes. Of the original 28 panels 18 have survived, though not in their original positions. The scenes can be readily identified (from top to bottom and left to right):
First row: Crucifixion. Healing of the Blind Man. Multiplication of the Loaves, Marriage in Cana, Doubting Thomas, Moses and the Burning Bush, Christ before Pilate.
Second row: Resurrection, Miracles of Moses, Christ's Appearance to the Women.
Third row: Three Kings, Ascension, Peter's denial, Crossing of the Red Sea, Miracle of the Serpent.
Fourth row: Christ between Peter and Paul, Triumph of Christ, Assumption of Elijah, Moses before Pharaoh. The nave is flanked by 20 Corinthian columns (20m/65ft high) of Parian marble.
First row: Crucifixion. Healing of the Blind Man. Multiplication of the Loaves, Marriage in Cana, Doubting Thomas, Moses and the Burning Bush, Christ before Pilate.
Second row: Resurrection, Miracles of Moses, Christ's Appearance to the Women.
Third row: Three Kings, Ascension, Peter's denial, Crossing of the Red Sea, Miracle of the Serpent.
Fourth row: Christ between Peter and Paul, Triumph of Christ, Assumption of Elijah, Moses before Pharaoh. The nave is flanked by 20 Corinthian columns (20m/65ft high) of Parian marble.
Mosaics
On the wall above the entrance is one of the oldest mosaics in Rome - two female figures symbolizing the Church of the Gentiles (pagans) and the Church of the Circumcision (Jews), with an inscription commemorating the erection of the church. The choir has fine marble screens with intarsia ornament.
