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Trastevere [Transtiberim] is a major attraction for its picturesque maze of narrow cobbled alleyways and medieval churches. At least one of these churches, Santa Maria in Trastevere, was visited by Berlioz (Memoirs, beginning of chapter 42). It is probably the first official Christian place of worship to be built in Rome. The legend has it that it was founded by Pope Callixtus I in the 3rd century, when Christianity was still a minority cult. Today’s church is largely a 12th-century building, remarkable for its mosaics, with some 18th century Baroque additions but it has retained its medieval character.
The photographs reproduced on this page were taken by Michel Austin in May 2007; other pictures have been scanned from postcards in our collection. © Monir Tayeb and Michel Austin. All rights of reproduction reserved.
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