One of the most unknown churches of Rome is that one of San Giorgio al Velabro that is old but, for specific reason, became the main character of the Italian chronicles at the 1993. Another example of how the history of Rome never ends, and how some buildings could be the main character of different stories. And, let me tell you from a local tour guide, keep in mind that you must visit this church. I adore it!

First of all let me tell you how the strange name "velabro" comes from the latin velabrum, that indicated the flat and swampy area of the Forum Boarium, from the Capitoline Hill to the Palatine Hill. The origins of this church are uncertain, because they are not clearly recorded. Officially the Church of San Giorgio al Velabro was canonized at the VII century a.D., so during the Middle Ages, by the pope Leo II. It is probably true that there was something before, maybe a small church from the VI century that was completely renovated by this pope. Maybe in ancient times here there was a "diaconia", that in the past was a sort of office for the administration of the city used by the Holy Church to help citizens and poor people). Probably this "diaconia" was managed by a group of Greek monks that also lived in the close Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. The Church of San Giorgio al Velabro was dedicated to this saint at the VIII century a.D., when pope Zaccaria moved the head of saint in Rome, inside this church.

Over the centuries, as happened in other similar examples, this sacred place was restored and modified several times. We have to remember the 1295 when the pope Bonifacio VIII maybe called the famous medieval artist Cavallini to paint the apse, frescos that are visible still today. Moreover other remains of medieval paintings are visible in a space between walls at the beginnins of the small left nave. Try to find it... But what I suggest you is to be inside the church breathing the historical and medieval atmosphere that you will find, forgetting the opulence and richness of the baroque churches. This church is intimate, in some degree, something that could be expressed with the original wonderful portico, that stands in front of the facade, that is from the IX century a.D. But this architectonical element is more than an ordinary, but beautiful, decoration, because it represents an example of attention to details and...terrorism!

We are at the 1993, an horrible year for Italy that was tormented by mafia attacks. One night, between the July 27th and the July 28th, a car bomb explosed here, in front of the portico, completely destroying it. It was good that there were not dead people, but the 100 kilos of explosive shattered the marble portico. Why could it visibile today? Thanks to the numerous experts that, day by day, piece by piece annd fragment by fragment were able to compose it, as a big puzzle. Each single piece was recorded and put inside 1050 small boxes, and thanks to this way to catalogue them the all portico was rebuilt. A great job of course, that was able to give to Rome back a medieval masterpiece. Not only that, because the Mafia hit here also because, according to a version of the famous myth, here it should be the place where the two divine twins, Romulus and Remus, were feed by the She-Wolf (to know more about this story click here). Even the so called Arco degli Argentari survived, a roman masterpiece which is leaning on the left side of the church. But thanks to the experts even this historical memory was not destroyed...