The Station in the first day of Lent is at one of the most beautiful and traditional churches in Rome, Saint Sabina in the Aventine Hill (also known as the mother Church of the Friars Preachers).
"The current basilica is dated, as reported in the great inscription in the entrance:'it was built by the priest Pietro Illirico, at the time of Pope Celestine I (422-432)'. But a Titulus Sabinae previous to that age is known. ...
"The basilica of the 5th century was frequently restored and modified, as almost all the ancient churches of Rome: fires, earthquakes, invasions, new styles were their greatest enemies. In 1914-1918, A.Munos restored it to its [original] style, using many original pieces, which fortunately had not been destroyed: this is [the Basilica] we currently admire.(Source)"
S. Sabina, the station established by Urban VIII for Ash Wednesday, is the most important of all because it was long customary for the popes to repair thither on that day to distribute the ashes to the people. (Source)
Read more on the Station Days and their history in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
