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After two failed attempts, last week I could eventually sneak into Santo Stefano Rotondo, which is an old (and round) basilica in the area of Celio (the Caelian Hill, behind the Coliseum). It is devoted to Saint Stephen of Hungary and is therefore the catholic Hungarian Church (and also catering for German community).
The church dates back from the second half of the fifth century.
It has a lovely light and purity of shapes.
It boasts a second century Mithraeum which I could not visit because it is under refection but what the church is most renown about is the set of 34 frescoes which depicts the martyrs of the Christians
This poor devil is being stoned:
This one is being flayed
While these poor devils are being boiled:
The scenes were commissioned by Gregory XIII in the 16th century.
As you can see - or guess - each painting has underneath there is an inscription explaining the scene and giving the name of the emperor who ordered the execution
The paintings are often is a bad state of repair:
Oh, look! Someone is getting fried!
Another series:
While in this side chapel, only reigns light.
The church dates back from the second half of the fifth century.
It has a lovely light and purity of shapes.
It boasts a second century Mithraeum which I could not visit because it is under refection but what the church is most renown about is the set of 34 frescoes which depicts the martyrs of the Christians
This poor devil is being stoned:
This one is being flayed
While these poor devils are being boiled:
The scenes were commissioned by Gregory XIII in the 16th century.
As you can see - or guess - each painting has underneath there is an inscription explaining the scene and giving the name of the emperor who ordered the execution
The paintings are often is a bad state of repair:
Oh, look! Someone is getting fried!
Another series:
While in this side chapel, only reigns light.
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