The history of the Basilica It is said that the church dedicated to Eustace was erected on the same site of his house, which was called Platana because of a platan tree standing next to it. In the church, lie buried the bodies of Saint Eustace, his son Agapitus and his wife Theopista. The church was restored in 1195 by Celestine III, who added the bell tower. “This church is also famous for being the place where the Roman People used to celebrate illustrious acts; moreover, until the years of Pio V, it was here that the students of La Sapienza University were conferred their doctor’s degree. Even nowadays, beside the usual offering of the chalice and torches in the memorial day of the Saint, the Roman People make the offering of a red velvet “palio” on January 29th, since it was on this day, in the year 1598, under Pope Clement VIII, that the Church recovered the City-state of Ferrara”. In the porch there are the marble statues of Count Giovanni Giraud and Alessandro Farnese, whose baptism was celebrated here. Source: leaflet of the Sant’Eustachio Basilica |
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