San Nicola in Carcere

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San Nicola in Carcere (Italian, "St Nicholas in prison") is a titular church in Rome near the Forum Boarium in rione Ripa.

1 History
2 Present
- 2.1 Nearby structures
3 External links

[edit] History

The first church on the site was probably built in the 6th century, and a 10th century inscription may be seen on a fluted column next to the entrance, but the first definite dedication is from a plaque on the church dating to 1128. It was constructed in and from the ruins of the Forum Holitorium and its temples, along with a jail (carcer) which a tradition (supported by Pliny's history of Rome) states was sited in the temples' ruins^{[citation needed]}. However, it should be noted that the in Carcere (in jail) part of the name of the church was only changed to "in Carcere Tulliano" in the 14th century, owing to an erroneous identification. The prison was really that of Byzantine times (LPD i.515, n13; ii.295, n12).

Spolia from all these ancient remains is still apparent in the church's construction, most particularly three columns from the Temple of Juno Sospita which are incorporated into both the 10th century and 1599 north facades of the church.

The dedication to St Nicholas was made by the Greek population in the area. In the 11th century, it was known as the church of Petrus Leonis, referring to the converted Jewish family who rebuilt the nearby Theatre of Marcellus as a fortress.

The church was rebuilt in 1599, with a new facade by Giacomo della Porta (though the medieval campanile - originally a fortified tower, then adapted to a bell tower after being abandoned - was not altered).

[edit] Present

The edge of the façade is barely visible on the left side of via Luigi Petroselli, from Piazza Venezia and Campidoglio to the Forum Boarium.

The church is known for celebrations to the devotion of the Madonna; one is the Italian Our Lady of Pompeii (whose feast is celebrated here) and the other is the Mexican Our Lady of Guadalupe (a reproduction of whose miraculous painting, sent here from Mexico in 1773, is shown). Beneath the high altar is also an ancient basalt bath tub containing martyrs' relics.