W3-13: Santo Stefano Rotondo

W3-13: SANTO STEFANO ROTONDO

Photo 1: Outside of the Santo Stefano Rotondo

Photo 2: Interior

The Santo Stefano Rotondo is one of the few round churches in Rome. It was established on the site of an earlier Roman slaughterhouse. This was built near a barracks. Here, legionnaires of foreign origin stayed, often tasked with secret missions. This also explains the presence of a mythraic temple beneath the current church.

The church has been renovated several times over the centuries but remains particularly known for the gruesome martyr scenes depicted on various frescoes on the side walls. All possible methods of torture that could come to the minds of some were apparently applied to the early Christians. The frescoes date from the transition between the 16th and 17th centuries. Saint Stephen is also depicted there. According to tradition, he was the first Christian martyr. He was stoned during his trial.

Due to the location of the church, in the immediate vicinity of the coordination center for the works of metro line C, the walls with the frescoes were wrapped in heavy wooden frames as a precaution. The images were copied onto canvases.

Marc Vandenbon