The church was built in the 8th century by Pope Adrian I, during the Byzantine Papacy over the remains of the Templum Herculis Pompeiani in the Forum Boarium and of the Statio annonae, one of the food distribution centres of ancient Rome. The 12th century rebuilding by Callixtus II is what gave its present appearance, but continued to be restored until the baroque period, notably the facade by Guiseppe Sardi in 1718