[1] The site lies on land that was formerly part of the Triopio, an estate owned by the Roman senator of Greek origin, Herodes Atticus and his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla.

[2] The church was built inside the temple in the 10th century and was dedicated to St. Urban who was pope from 222 to 230.

Often abandoned, the church was eventually restored by Pope Urban VIII and his nephew Cardinal Francesco Barberini, beginning in 1634.

[3] They originally formed part of a portico but walls between them were added during this renovation in order to provide stability.

Even after the renovation, the church's remote position meant that it was often subject to vandalism and it was eventually abandoned.