Santa Maria in Domnica

Basilica di Santa Maria in Domnica Basilica Minore di Santa Maria in Domnica alla Navicella (Italian)
Facade of Santa Maria in Domnica
Basic information
Location	Rome, Italy
Geographic coordinates	Coordinates: 41°53′4.8″N 12°29′44.1″E / 41.884667°N 12.495583°E / 41.884667; 12.495583
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor Basilica
Leadership	William Joseph Levada
Website	http://www.santamariaindomnica.it
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Early Christian, Renaissance, and Baroque
Groundbreaking	AD 5th century

The Minor Basilica of St. Mary in Domnica alla Navicella (Basilica Minore di Santa Maria in Domnica alla Navicella), or simply Santa Maria in Domnica or Santa Maria alla Navicella, is a Roman Catholic basilica in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and active in local charity according to its long tradition. The current Cardinal Deacon of the Titulus S. Mariae in Domnica is William Joseph Levada.

The appellation "in Domnica" has been differently explained. One interpretation is the derivation from "dominicum" ("of the Lord"), and by extension "church". Another interpretation is that it refers to the name of Cyriaca, a Christian woman who resided nearby and whose name denotes "belonging to the Lord": "Dominica" in Latin. A third interpretation is that the name derives from the Latin phrase in dominica (praedia) ("on Imperial property"). The appellation "alla Navicella" denotes "near the little ship", and refers to the sculpture of a Roman ship that has been in this location since ancient times, possibly as a votive offering to an ancient temple, and which Pope Leo X turned into a fountain.

The basilica was built in ancient times, close to the barracks of the Fifth Cohort of the Roman Vigiles on the Caelian Hill. The basilica is mentioned in the records of a synod of Pope Symmachus in AD 499. In 678, it was one of seven churches assigned to deacons by Pope Agatho.

The basilica was rebuilt from 818-22 by Pope Paschal I, and included mosaic decoration. Pope Paschal I is credited with Rome's early 9th century age of renovation and artistic splendor.

The Medici family extensively modified the interior in the 16th century, because some of them were the cardinal holders of the archdiaconate through much of that century.