The Three Great Basilicas

Highlights

St. Paolo fuori le Mura

St. Paolo fuori le MuraThe last of the 4 Basilicas one “Must Visit” in a Holy Year. The original venerable 4C church went up in flames in 1823. Rebuilt with even more magnificence, the forest of columns inside is impressive, although a bit cold.

That which survived the fire:

5C Chancel arch with mosaic of Christ with 2 angels and 24 elders. The inscription (recomposed after thefire), is to the patron Galla Placidia, daughter of the Roman Emperor Theodosius (370-395 AD).
12C Paschal Candlestick (Nicolò di Angelo and Pietro Vassalletto). A marble sculpture twice as high as a man with gorgeous snarling monsters at the bottom.

1286 Gothic Baldaquin Canopy by Arnaldo di Cambio (and friend Pietro - perhaps Cavallini). Beneath the angels and fine carving is the main altar. Below the altar is a plaque saying St. Paul is buried here.

13C Venetian Mosaic in the Apse. See if you can spot Pope Honorius III (1216-27) who commissioned the mosaic, a tiny figure at Christ's feet.


St. Paolo fuori le Mura, cloister

Cloister. 13C. This rose garden surrounded by magnificent arcades is a place to stop and linger, with its myriad columns in all shapes and sizes.
Spiral columns encrusted with mosaics and sprinkled with gold protect some of the ancient tombs that were moved here after the 1823 fire.



Piazzale di S. Paolo corner to Via Ostiense (Beyond Map Area)

stop