Dome

Side view of a wall tomb in the main church; The original basilica of Ss. Quattro Coronati (four crowned martyrs) was founded towards the end of the sixth century. It stands on the north side of the Coelian hill (Celio) in Rome, and is made up of several buildings grouped around the basilica. Traces of frescoes, mainly from the 13th and 14th centuries, and some columns from the nave of the early church were brought to light during restoration work in 1913-1914. When the chapel of St. Sylvester (1247) was acquired in 1570 by the Confraternity of the Marmorari (marble workers), whose patrons were the four saints, the presbytery was restructured in its present form with frescoes probably carried out by Raffaellino da Reggio. The members of the confraternity also commissioned the frescoes adjacent to the side entrance of the chapel, beneath the west portico of the first courtyard, showing the Visitation of Mary and the Nativity, dated 1588. Source: Santi Quatto Coronati Monastery [website]; http://www.santiquattrocoronati.org/ (accessed 1/20/2008)