Rotonda di San Lorenzo facts for kids
The Rotonda di San Lorenzo is a very old church in Mantua, a city in northern Italy. It is the oldest church in Mantua. Today, it sits a bit lower than the ground around it in the Piazza della Erbe. People believe it might have been built on the spot where an ancient Roman temple once stood. This temple was likely dedicated to the Roman goddess Venus.
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History of the Rotonda
This special church was built a long, long time ago. It was constructed in the late 1000s, during the time of the Canossa family. The design of the Rotonda di San Lorenzo was inspired by another famous church. This was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
What is a Central Plan Church?
The Rotonda di San Lorenzo has a "central plan." This means the church is built around a central point, rather than being long and rectangular like many other churches. It is dedicated to a Christian hero named St. Lawrence, who was a martyr. A martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs.
Ancient Features Inside
Even today, the church still has some very old parts. One of these is the matronaeum. This was a special balcony or gallery where women used to sit during church services.
The church also has beautiful old paintings called frescoes. These frescoes were made between the 11th and 12th centuries. They are in a style called "Byzantine school," which means they look like art from the Byzantine Empire. There is also a small piece of a fresco from the 15th century. It shows the Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, which means it shows the story of how St. Lawrence died.
Building Materials
The church was mostly built using bricks. This was a common way to build in the Lombard region of Italy. However, it also has two columns and other details made of marble. These marble pieces were taken from older, ancient buildings and reused in the church.
Later Life of the Church
Over time, the Rotonda di San Lorenzo stopped being used as a church. It was "deconsecrated," which means it was no longer considered a holy place. Instead, it was used for many different things. People lived in it, and it became shops and storage areas.
At the start of the 1900s, other buildings were even built around and over it. It was almost hidden! But later, people decided to bring it back to its original look. They worked to restore it, removing all the extra buildings and additions that had been put on it. Now, you can see it much like it was long ago.
