One of Trastevere's most historic and time-burnished squares, this piazza takes its name from some ancient Roman baths on the site (piscina means "pool"). The tiny church of San Benedetto on the piazza is the smallest church in the city and, despite its 18th-century facade, is much older than it looks, probably dating back to the 4th century AD. Opposite is the medieval Casa dei Mattei (Mattei House). Rich and powerful, the Mattei family lived here until the 16th century, when, after a series of murders on the premises, they decided to move out of the district entirely, crossing the river to build their magnificent palace in the Ghetto.
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