Santa Sabina

Basilica of Saint Sabina at the Aventine
  • Basilica di Santa Sabina all'Aventino (Italian)
  • Basilica Sanctae Sabinae (Latin)
Map
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41°53′04″N 12°28′47″E / 41.884444444444°N 12.479722222222°E / 41.884444444444; 12.479722222222
LocationPiazza Pietro d’Illiria 1
Rome
CountryItaly
DenominationCatholic
WebsiteGeneral Curia of the Order of the Preachers
History
StatusMinor basilica, titular church
DedicationSaint Sabina
Architecture
StylePaleochristian, Baroque, Neoclassical
Groundbreaking422
Completed432
Specifications
Length60 m (200 ft)
Width30 m (98 ft)
Nave width17 metres (56 ft)
Clergy
Cardinal protectorVacant

The Basilica of Saint Sabina (Latin: Basilica Sanctae Sabinae, Italian: Basilica di Santa Sabina all'Aventino) is a historic church on the Aventine Hill in Rome, Italy. It is a titular minor basilica and mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans.

Santa Sabina is the oldest extant ecclesiastical basilica in Rome that preserves its original colonnaded rectangular plan with apse and architectural style. Its decorations have been restored to their original restrained design. Other basilicas, such as Santa Maria Maggiore, have been ornately decorated in later centuries. Because of its simplicity, the Santa Sabina represents the adaptation of the architecture of the roofed Roman forum or basilica to the basilica churches of Christendom. It is especially well-known for its cypress wood doors carved in AD 430-432 with Biblical scenes, the most famous being the first known publicly displayed depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the two thieves.

Santa Sabina is perched high above the Tiber to the north and the Circus Maximus to the east. It is next to the small public park of Giardino degli Aranci ("Garden of Oranges"), which has a scenic terrace overlooking Rome. It is a short distance from the headquarters of the Knights of Malta.

Its last cardinal priest was Jozef Tomko until his death on 8 August 2022. It is the stational church for Ash Wednesday.


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