Tempio di Antonino e Faustina (Temple of Antoninus and Faustina), Rome

What's known today as the Church of San Lorenzo in Miranda in the Roman Forum was adapted from the ancient Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. Like many other churches in Rome, this one was built over an older structure, reflecting the city's characteristic blend of ancient and modern layers. Although much of the structure has been modified over time, the original portico with its marble Corinthian columns remains intact.

Emperor Antoninus Pius, one of Rome’s so-called “Five Good Emperors”, built the temple in 141 AD to honor his deceased wife, Faustina the Elder, whom he deified. This marked the first time an empress was granted a permanent presence in the Roman Forum. After Antoninus Pius died in 161 AD, his successor, Marcus Aurelius, rededicated the temple to honor the imperial couple.

The structure was built on a high podium with an inscription on the façade declaring its dedication to the “divine Antoninus and Faustina” by order of the Senate. The portico, supported by eight massive Corinthian columns (each standing 17 meters tall), is the most striking feature, while its frieze, adorned with griffins, acanthus scrolls, and candelabra, later influenced Renaissance and Neoclassical art.

Coins from the era suggest the temple originally had a gated entrance from the Sacred Street and housed statues of Faustina and Antoninus Pius, fragments of which were later discovered. By the 7th century, the temple was converted into a Christian church, renamed after Saint Lawrence, based on the belief that his sentencing took place there. Over time, medieval modifications included attempts to dismantle the columns for materials and the removal of much of the temple’s original marble facing.

In the 15th century, Pope Martin V granted the church to the Guild of Apothecaries, which still operates a small museum nearby. During Emperor Charles V’s visit in 1536, parts of the church were demolished to restore the temple’s classical elements. Later, in 1602, renovations gave the church a single nave and three chapels, with notable artworks like Pietro da Cortona’s “Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence” and Domenichino’s “Madonna and Child with Saints.”

Today, the Church of San Lorenzo in Miranda represents a remarkable fusion of Roman antiquity and Catholic tradition, symbolizing Rome’s layered history within its ancient walls.