Santa Constanza

The church was made for the wife of Constantine

In the Santa Constanza are the oldest wall-mosaics of Rome.

The cloister has a ceiling with a vault in the form of an arch.

These are decorated with mosaics. They have a few things in common with the floor-mosaics, because before the fourth century they only made floor-mosaics. You can tell from by the white background, the geometric composition, and ornamental motives. The mosaics show scenes with fruit, flowers, animals, birds, and even scenes of the Roman harvesting of grapes. All the walls are covered with mosaics and inlaid marble.

The mosaics in the niches date from the fifth and sixth centuries. They show Christian themes. On the right you can see the delivering of the keys and on the left the Saviour gives the blessing.

In the span are represented the two central figures Constanza and her husband Aniballianus.