The History of the Basilica of San Giorgio in Velabro

(The Basilica of St. George, Rome)

The foundation of the Basilica of San Giorgio in Velabro (St. George) goes back at least to the VII century to the work of Pope Leo II who dedicated it to Saints Sebastian and George. It is probable, though, that the construction used preexisting structures on the site, perhaps  a civil structure of classical age (a Roman basilica) and a Christian building serving the poor, a diaconia.

The very irregular plan of the basilica is testimony to the various transformations undertaken in historical phases of its construction. Pope Zaccary (741-752), of Greek origin, transferred the head of the martyr George from Cappadocia. He then placed the relic of the saint in this basilica. During that period of history, the zone in which San Giorgio lies was the center of many civil employees, merchants and military officials from the Greek speaking eastern empire. Later, in the course of the IX century under Pope Gregory IV, further changes and transformations to the basilica took place.

In the first half of the XIII century, the portico to the basilica was constructed, a gift of Stefano di Stella (this is indicated with the beautiful inscription in Gothic characters on the border of the portico). During the same period, it appears that the bell tower was also added.

Between the end of the XIII century and the first years of the XIV, the frescoes in the apse of the basilica were executed by Peter Cavallini. These were a gift and commission of Cardinal Stefaneschi. In later centuries, other work was completed. The bells and the iron grating of the portico were provided by Clement IX (1667-1669) and the ceiling of the main basilica was the work of F. Civalli in 1704.

In the course of the XIX century, after a period in which the basilica suffered degradation, it experienced some restoration under the pontificates of Leo XII and Gregory XVI. A major restoration took place later in the XX century. Between 1923 and 1926, the Superintendent of Monuments of Rome, Antonio Mufioz, completed a radical work of restoration. The objective of this restoration was to give back "the medieval character" of the basilica and free it from the additions of successive historical phases.

The restoration reopened the ancient windows that gave light the central nave, returned the floor to its original level (thus exposing the bases of the columns), restored the apse, and removed numerous accretions of the most recent periods. The restoration also recovered numerous fragments which testify to the existence of an ancient schola cantorum attributed to the period of Gregory IV (VIII-IX century). These fragments were then placed on the inner walls of the basilica.