Basilica of Santa Francesca,
Rome, Italy. A church at the site was known by the tenth century. It was named
Santa Maria Nova ("New St Mary"), to distinguish it from the other church inside the Roman forum devoted to St Mary,
Santa Maria Antiqua ("Ancient St Mary"), which had fallen into ruin by then. The relics from the ancient church were moved to this church under Pope Leo. Santa Maria Nuova was enlarged in the second half of the tenth century, and then rebuilt by
Pope Honorius III in the thirteenth century, adding the campanile and the apse, as well as being decorated with a mosaic
Maestà, a depiction of the Madonna enthroned accompanied by saints (as seen in the picture). Since 1352 the church has been in the care of the
Olivetans. In the 16th century, the church was rededicated to
Frances of Rome (
Francesca Buzzi), who was canonized in 1608 and whose relics are in the crypt. The interior of the church has undergone many refurbishments.
