The Church of San Marcello al Corso Photo: the Church of San Marcello al Corso

San Marcello al Corso Church in Rome dedicated to Pope Marcellus I (4th century BC). Located in the street of via del Corso, known in ancient times as the via Lata, now connects Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo. The Church stands on a diagonal from the Church of Santa Maria in via Lata.

The legend says that the Church of San Marcello al Corso is built on the site of the prison in which he was imprisoned in Marcellus 309 year. It is known also that in 418 year this place was located the temple of Titulus Marcelli, in which was elected Pope Boniface I. In the 8th century by order of Pope Hadrian I here was erected a Church, which now lies under the modern structure. Interestingly, it was in this Church for three days after the death in 1354 kept the body of Cola di Rienzo, an Italian political figure.

In 1519, a terrible fire destroyed the Church. The money raised for its restoration, were given as a bribe to the landsknechts, the German mercenaries who were looting in the city during the sack of Rome in 1527. On the project of restoring the Church initially worked Jacopo Sansovino, but he escaped from Rome. His work was continued by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, who brought it to the end. However, in 1530 flooding again caused severe damage to the temple. Only in 1592-1597, the Church finally managed to recover with the assistance of architect Carlo Fontana, who worked on the facade. Statues of white limestone were performed by Francesco Cavallini, and stucco bas-reliefs above the entrance is the work of Antonio Raggi.

Under the main altar, decorated plate mosaics of the 12th century, the relics of several saints, including Pope Marcellus and Digni and America. And one of the chapels are decorated with sculptures of Jacopo Sansovino.

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