“De sacris aedificiis a Constantino magno constructis”, which was published in 1693, is a history of the ancient churches built by Emperor Constantine the Great. While this title might indicate various book-types, the preface shows that it has been written by a clergyman and probably found most interest among them. It is thus not very surprising, that his views of the matter were greatly influenced by his background and are nowadays considered outdated. Nevertheless, the book is still of great importance because it contains many illustrations of works and buildings that no longer exist today. This tradition of Christian archaeology dates to Emperor Constantin himself, making Ciampini following in his footsteps even the more fitting. Ciampini created what could be considered a monograph, which shows his serious dedication to this very specific topic.
Furthermore, the books index lists 59 chapters, 15 sections and a Parergon. It also includes an index of all churches mentioned in the book and an appendix with many illustrations, such as floorplans, sections and views, which are both not mentioned in the primary table of contents. Overall, the book presents a very intricate structure, comparable to contemporary books.
The books size and appearance are rather inconspicuous. This might be an indication for its niche readership, especially given Ciampini’s approach to the matter. Among people really interested in this specific topic however, it probably enjoyed great popularity. Since it is written in Latin, those belonged to the upper class or were affiliated with the clergy in some way or another.