Basilica Parrocchiale San Lorenzo in Damaso

A basilica church in central Rome. It is incorporated into the Palazzo della Cancelleria.
Archeologic evidence suggests the site, like many loci for Roman churches, may have housed a pagan temple. The first documentary evidence of a church at this site is the reference in the synod of Pope Symmachus (499) of a Titulus Damasi. According to tradition, in the 380’s a basilica church was built by Pope Damasus I in his own house. This church is one of many dedicated to the Roman deacon and martyr Saint Lawrence.
The architect of the church is unclear. The palace design has been attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Martini and Baccio Pontelli. The interior decoration was begun by the resident of the Palace, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. The walls of the right counterfacade were painted by Cavaliere d’Arpino. The main altar has a canvas depicting Saints and Coronation of Mary by Zuccari. The altar is set above the relics of Saints Pope Eutychian and Pope Damasus I. To the left of the altar is a copy of a statue of St Hippolytus of Rome.
Immediately to the right of the entrance is the memorial to Alessandro Valtrini, a minister of Pope Urban VIII, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1639. The second vestibule has statues of Saints Francis Xavier and Charles Borromeo by Stefano Maderno.