Parrocchia Santa Maria Regina Pacis a Ostia Lido

The basilica S. Maria Regina Pacis was designed by architect Giulio Magni, considered one of the most important architects of the time, but its promoter was engineer Paolo Orlando who, in 1916, contacted Cardinal Vannutelli, then Bishop of Ostia, to implement the project.

The church, planned in the General Regulatory Plan of the new city of Ostia, was to be built in a barycentric position with the façade facing the sea.

The 2500 square metre land for the construction was donated by the Governorate of Rome, on the highest dune of the coastline, to the Augustinian Fathers of the Parish of St. Aurea in Ostia Antica, who were the first to officiate at the church that was not yet a parish. On 12 January 1917, the donation was signed and Card. Vannutelli made contact with architect Magni, authorising him to prepare an outline project elaborated in all its components.

On 21 June 1919, Card. Vannutelli laid the cornerstone in the presence of numerous dignitaries.

The work began immediately, entrusted to the construction company of engineer Loni, but after the initial impetus, there were difficulties and delays in the financing of the work by the Augustinian Fathers. Card. Vannutelli, then turned to the Pallottine Fathers of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate who, in the person of Rector Don Valentino Marino, accepted the undertaking and undertook to complete the work by seeking the necessary funds.

We read in an article in l'Architettura Italiana in 1918: This church will be built according to the design of architect Giulio Magni, who is also in charge of the works. The church is 56 metres long and 21 metres wide. The octagonal dome has a diameter of 12 metres and is 42 metres high. The building as a whole is sober and organic from a constructional point of view, both because of the materials used, curtain wall and freestone on the outside, and because from the development of the vaults of the naves, covered with rounded arches forming crosses that are set on granite columns, the architect was able to show the entire concept of the interior construction from the outside.

The layout is a basilica-type hall with side chapels and transept. The nave, covered by a round vault divided into sections, is sculpted by the lunettes of the large side windows. The rhythm of the side chapels is marked by a succession of columns in hammered travertine with octagonal plinths and Corinthian capitals, 8 metres high under the cornice.

The external architectural line of the temple is both classical and modern. The exterior is highlighted by the use of Roman travertine and special red bricks. The windows of the nave and façade reproduce, in style, the large windows of the Baths of Diocletian, later used by Michelangelo in the architectural layout of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. The façade is truly majestic with the entrance door in the centre.

In the tympanum above the window of the main façade is set the heraldic coat of arms of Pope Pius XI.

The church was consecrated and inaugurated on 20 December 1928.