Il Museo civico “U Mastroianni”, inaugurated in 2000, is housed in the former church of S. Lucia, built on a Roman cistern dating between the 1st and 2nd century AD and reused as a Christian place of worship before the 11th century. In 1102, the first true ecclesiastical building was erected, incorporating a tower-house. Around the mid-14th century, the church was completely redecorated, and in the 15th century it was entirely transformed, constructing a series of pointed arches. It was deconsecrated in 1669, for the construction of the Collegiate Church of S. Barnaba. After suppression, it was used for various functions, passing in 1850 to the Friars of the Most Precious Blood who reopened it for worship; after 1870, the building was included among state property and used for secular purposes. Damaged by the bombings of 1944, it was rebuilt and adapted as a shelter for displaced persons. Finally, in 1974 it was purchased by the Municipality of Marino as a venue for cultural events. The Museum currently exhibits artifacts from the municipal territory including classical statuary, sepulchral cippi, sarcophagi, inscriptions, protohistoric deposits, and a fragment of an altar from the ancient church.
Information about Museo “Umberto Mastroianni”
Largo Jacopa de’ Sottesoli snc,
00047 Marino (Rome)
069385681
museocivicomarino@interfree.it
Source: MIBACT
