Chiesa di Santa Lucia in Selci

Situated on the Esquiline Hill, in a hollow not far from the Viminale, Santa Lucia in Selci is so called because of its proximity to the ancient Via Labicana (now Via Casilina), the road that led to Campania, whose soil was covered with stone from ancient times.Today, the ancient road (which partly coincided with the steep Clivus Suburanus mentioned by Martial) runs parallel to Via Cavour, which was opened in the late 19th century, so that the church's environment still retains, in its singular isolation, the picturesque charm of pre-unification Rome.The church was founded by Pope Symmachus (6th century), and had several names in ancient times, all indicative of the antiquity of the place where it stood. It is mentioned in the Catalogue of Cencio Camerario with an income of XVIII denari.The church is part of a very old fortified monastery (like several others in Rome: think of the Santi Quattro) built on a Roman building - traces of which can be seen in the plugging arches and travertine pillars still visible in the thick wall - that belonged first to the Benedictines, then to the Carthusians, then, since the 17th century, to the Augustinian nuns who still keep it.The Augustinian church was completely rebuilt in the early 17th century by Carlo Maderno. In 1637-1638, the building was then restored by Francesco Borromini; from 1628 to 1639, the architect worked on the decoration of the Trinity Chapel on behalf of Sister Clarice Vittoria Landi. Inside there is also an altarpiece with the Martyrdom of St. Lucy by Giovanni Lanfranco.