The consecration of the church took place in 1221 by Pope Honorius III: the plaque commemorating the event is visible on the wall of the left aisle. It was dedicated to St Anastasius, like the pre-existing one, and only in 1370 was it called of Saints Anastasius and Vincent, when the relics of the latter, a Spanish martyr, arrived at the Tre Fontane monastery. The church was built according to Cistercian stylistic rules, which called for sobriety and austerity. However, this did not detract from the search for beauty and balance, always present in the 'Bernardine' style, i.e. Romanesque-Burgundian; so much so that it represents one of the most interesting monuments of transitional Roman medieval architecture. The structure of the church opens up to view with a tetrastyle portico composed of oriental marble columns and Ionic capitals, and a roof that does not slope to the sides, but extends along the entire length of the three naves. Inside, the floor plan of the church is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a square apse and side chapels, and consists of three naves; the largest of which, the central one, is made of brick and was intended to be covered with an arched vault, but the collapse of the walls forced the work to be completed with simple exposed trusses.
The side naves, on the other hand, are covered with cross vaults supported by nine pillars and face the main nave through round arches. Finally, pointed arches form the roof of the four chapels of the pseudo transept. Light diffuses into the church through single-lancet windows with double splays inside and outside, decorated with stained glass windows of recent times, and from the front of the nave through a rose window and five single-lancet windows. Frescoed decorations can be found on the side pillars, where figures of the Apostles are depicted, as well as on the back pillars of the nave where the Baptism in the Jordan and Christ and Mary Magdalene are depicted.
Information
For the timetable of the masses and visiting conditions, please consult the contacts.
Location
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