SANTO STEFANO ROTONDO, a photo from Rome, Lazio

Photographer's Note

ROME Santo Stefano Rotondo, also known as Santo Stefano al Monte Celio, is an ancient basilica church in Rome. It lies on the Caelian Hill.

The edifice was consecrated by Pope Simplicius between 468 and 483. It was dedicated to protomartyr Saint Stephen, whose body had been discovered a few decades before in the Holy Land, and brought into Rome. The church was the first in Rome to have a circular plan, inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Santo Stefano was probably financed by the wealthy Valerius family, whose estates covered large parts of the Caelian Hill. Their villa stood nearby, on the site of the present-day Hospital of San Giovanni - Addolorata. St Melanie, a member of the family, was a frequent pilgrim to Jerusalem and died there, so the family had connections to the Holy Land.

Reconstruction of the appearance of the church in the 5th century.Originally the church had three concentrical ambulatories flanked by 22 Ionic columns, which surround the central circular space surmounted by a tambour (22 m high and 22 m wide). There were 22 windows in the tambour but most of them were walled up in the 15th century restoration. The outermost corridor was later demolished.

The church was embellished by Pope John I and Pope Felix IV in the 6th century. In 1130 Innocent II had added three transversal arches to support the dome.

In the Middle Ages, Santo Stefano Rotondo was charged to the Canons of San Giovanni in Laterano, but as time went on it fell unto disrepair. In the middle of the 15th century, Flavio Biondo praised the marble columns, marble covered walls and cosmatesque works-of-art of the church, but he added that unfortunately "nowadays Santo Stefano Rotondo hadn't got any roof". Blondus claimed that the church was built on the remains of an ancient Temple of Faunus. Excavations in 1969 to 1975 revealed that the building was actually never converted from a pagan temple but was always a church, erected under Constantine I in the first half of the 4th century.

In 1454, Pope Nicholas V entrusted the ruined church to the Pauline Fathers, the only Catholic Order founded by Hungarians. This was the reason why Santo Stefano Rotondo later became the unofficial church of the Hungarians in Rome. The church was restored by Bernardo Rossellino, probably under the guidance of Leon Battista Alberti.

In 1579, the Hungarian Jesuits followed the Pauline Fathers. The Collegium Hungaricum, established here by István Arator that year, was soon merged with the Collegium Germanicum in 1580, becoming the Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum, because very few Hungarian student was able to travel to Rome from the Turkish-occupied Kingdom of Hungary.

The Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Stephani in Coelio Monte has been Friedrich Cardinal Wetter since 1985. His predecessor, József Mindszenty was famous as the persecuted Catholic leader of Hungary under the Communist dictature.
WIKIPEDIA

ribeiroantonio, robertosalguero, vinicio, jjcordier, besnard, AiresSantos, kri54, messenger1, clio, japiey, ktanska, parbo, jlbrthnn, Guenther, degani, zeca, Docarmo, lestans, Silvio1953, Jakab, jmcl, noborders, Yffic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (22618) 2008-02-19 22:47

Just reading all the history behind this place is already very interesting. And looking at the picture makes me wish to go to Rome and a have look myself. The light is superb and the placement of the lady is excellent. Well done
Antonio

vinicio (23415) 2008-02-19 22:56

Eccellente uso del grandangolo, la distorsione che ne hai ricavato è affascinante, ottima anche la gestione delle luci, bravo Gio', complimenti.
Ciao
Vinicio

jjcordier (52073) 2008-02-19 22:58

Giorgio
Très belle présentation de l'intérieur de cette église avec une très bonne utilisation du grand angle et un très beau travail sur ombre et lumière (très belle gestion de la lumière). Très belle réalisation!
Amicalement
JJ

AiresSantos (55943) 2008-02-19 23:33

Hi Giorgio
Amazing architecture in this excellent composition. I like your POV and people give us a scale. Well managed the light and great details
TFS and greetings
Aires

kri54 (1515) 2008-02-19 23:42

belle perspective tronquée, fallait y penser

messenger1 (1033) 2008-02-20 0:28

Hello, Giorgio -
Great architectural image. The wide angle shot emphasizes the round shape of the Rotondo and the surrounding walls. The lighting is good - warm and natural. Well done!

besnard (45708) 2008-02-20 0:30

Bonjour Giorggio
Très beau cliché avec un angle bien choisi pour mettre en valeur cette rotonde.
C'est du très bon travail - merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

clio (27949) 2008-02-20 0:40

Ciao Giorgio,
Tu anche, lo hai bene domato il canone! L'obiettivo 10-22 è eccellente, credo.
Qui ciò lo ha permesso di avere un angolo meraviglioso di vista. Mi piacono particolarmente questi colori morbidi e luminosi che mostrare molto la bella illuminazione naturale della basilica.
Buona giornata
Diane

Nicou (83142) 2008-02-20 0:49

Hello Giorgio,

Quel effet, mangigique, avec cette lumière , un personnage dans la lumière, un autre dans le sombre, mangigique, cette rotonde est slendide.

Bravo eta amitiés

Nicou

japiey (10163) 2008-02-20 2:27

Hi Giorgio,

Interesting notes.
Beautifull shot of the ancient basilica.
Good management of lights.
WONDROUS.

jp

jonathan_hart (21262) 2008-02-20 3:08

hi Giorgio
great wide view on this interesting architecture, the people add life, the light management is perfect
regards
jo

ktanska (20369) 2008-02-20 3:28

Hi Giorgio,
Full 10 mm angle was obviously necessary to catch this scene. You have really brought us inside this magnificient structure. Two people on sun and shadow are well placed. I think some perspective correction would be useful to decrease leaning of those columns.
Kari

parbo (11092) 2008-02-20 4:18

Hi Giorgio,

It was an admirable place for me too. You excellently captured center dome and its huge columns while adding effect of your wide angle lens. Good managing of light creates perfect balance between dark and illuminated part. I like your way adding visitors to help scale your view and especially untouched, natural colors a lot. Congratulations.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

stefanocer (10638) 2008-02-20 5:13

Bellissima giorgio e di ottima qualità considerando anche che hai lavorato a 16mm e a tutta apertura , la deformazione crea un bell'effetto e la luce è gestita molto bene , complimenti .
Stefano.

jplebrun (21162) 2008-02-20 5:57

Ciao Giorgio
magnifique architecture que tu nous présentes dans ce cliché, inspire la prière et le calme, beau contrôle de la luminosité, superbe composition.
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

jlbrthnn (71902) 2008-02-20 6:58

Buongiorno Giorgio,
la vostra immagine acccentue il gigantismo della costruzione. Il monumento e la sua storia sono notevoli. La qualità del magio è molto buona, congratulazione.
Passa un buono giorno
Amicalement
Joël

Guenther (10394) 2008-02-20 8:21

Ciao Giorgio,
immagine molto suggestiva di questa antichissima chiesa ... molto belle sia la luce che la prospettiva...

Buona serata
Günther

manada (6239) 2008-02-20 11:07

Ciao Giorgio
qualche volta ho visto delle foto realizzate con il grandangolo ma le distorsioni risultavano "artistiche" per non dire sgradevoli. Questa invece riserva una certa armonia e la figura nella luce ne aumenta il fascino.
Ottimo lavoro, come sempre.
Freddy

Bluejeans (59394) 2008-02-20 12:17

Ola Giorgio
Fantastica foto com a grande angular criou um bonito efeito circular , gostei muito da luz a iluminar o homem , o tecto e muito interessante , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

degani (2963) 2008-02-20 13:01

ciao Giorgio,
questa fotografia è spettacolare, la prospettiva e la luce creano un'immagine davvero unica e di grande effetto, veramente molto bravo
ciao
franco

zeca (19846) 2008-02-20 13:13

Hello Giorgio!
The wide angle was very well used here! The perspective is excellent! I also like the lights, very well managed to create this fine composition!
Regards,
Zeca

crckt (7216) 2008-02-20 14:47

Hi Giorgio,
The fish eye lens was used wonderfully. Love it's effect. Fantastic shot! it brings out a feel of history, the addition of people with brochures also enhances that atmosphere.
Well done,
Shaeri

robertosalguero (196) 2008-02-20 20:28

Hello Giorgio,

Your note is very interesting. The historical significance of this building is remarkable. The building itself is very elegant with its columns and light colours. I like the angle and distortions of the lines in the image. The people included in the image give me an idea of the size of the building. Thanks Giorgio.

Roberto

Docarmo (9631) 2008-02-20 20:55

Ciao Giorgio,
Fantastic picture of indoors. The architecture is very beautiful and special. I like the natural lighting.
Bravo!
MCV

lestans (16682) 2008-02-21 7:19

Interessante questa chiesa, Giorgio!
Complimenti per il grandangolo! Ci sei andato pesante con la distorsione e però così ci fai vedere quello che se no si percepisce solo andando sul posto.
La luce è bellissima, la nota ottima

Livia

Silvio1953 (83393) 2008-02-21 11:07

Ciao Giorgio, magnifica ripresa con grandangolo di questa magnifica architettura paleocristiana, splendida luce, bravo, ciao Silvio

Jakab (3861) 2008-02-21 14:56

Salve Giorgio,
questa foto é la prima che vedo della chiesa maestosa e cosí importante per gli ungheresi. Molto curiosa, rassomiglia meglio a Pantheon che a una basilica. Ottima esposizione all'incontro di luci estreme.
Grazie per la foto eccelente e la nota dettagliata.
Complimenti
Laszlo

bruce_wayne (1507) 2008-02-22 4:47

Ti ho prestato il mio obiettivo...e neanche mi hai ringraziato!!!!! Fortunatamente non lo hai usato alla perfezione... :) :) !! E' storta... diminuisciti i punti!!

Alessandro

jmcl (14535) 2008-02-22 21:41

Hi Giorgio,

Stunning use of perspective and dimension .. subtle and wonderful use of light and shadow in the composition .. very nice,

take care,

John

noborders (1010) 2008-02-24 1:29

I like those constructions in cercle and your photo is very well taken, the light is superb and every element is worth seeing, from ceiling to the floor...
Complimenti,
Ciao,
Cath.
(PS : capisco il tuo italiano ma spero che tu capisci l'inglese perchè non so scrivere in velocità in italiano, - plus I am making so many mistakes while writing, that I feel stupid !)

lousat (45626) 2008-02-24 15:15

Ciao Giorgio,sono tornato dopo parecchi problemi al pc,sono contento di vedere le tue ultime foto,tra tutte questa e' veramente spettacolare,complimenti,Luciano

Bruno40 (6658) 2008-02-28 20:32

Hi Giorgio,
I have been so busy that I couldn't vist your photos recently.
I like this one. I like the wide angle lens effect, and the symmetry.
Good work
TFS
Jorge

Yffic (6106) 2008-03-10 1:19

Hi Giorgio,

What a nice composition ...
The wide angle effect works very well on this shot.
Thanks also for the instructive note.

Regards.

Yves