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The Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls is subject to Vatican extraterritoriality and is the second largest Roman church after St Peter’s. The two largest churches are therefore dedicated to the patron saints of Rome who shared the tragic fate of martyrdom under Nero. And for this reason they are remembered by the Catholic Church on 29 June.
But while St Peter’s Basilica has a more ‘international’ character, St Paul’s Outside the Walls, in the Roman district/neighbourhood of the same name, is perceived as more typically ‘city-like’. Due to its importance, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
The Basilica stands on a 1st-4th century AD necropolis where, according to tradition, the saint was buried and was consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I. Later rebuilt to its current dimensions, it was completed in 395 under Emperor Honorius. The Apostle’s tomb is located under the high altar, known as the ‘papal altar’, in a bronze cube of ‘5 cubes’ (about 1.48 m) per side.
Around this protection another one was built in masonry, closed by a marble slab with the inscription ‘PAULO APOSTOLO MART’. Over the centuries, the Basilica has been a popular destination for pilgrims.
Since 1300, the first Holy Year, it has been part of the Jubilee itinerary to obtain indulgences and the rite of the opening of the Holy Door is celebrated there.
A complex historical path saw the Basilica enrich itself over the centuries with significance (in the 8th century it was Giovannipoli, a small monastic-feudal state) and testimonies of art. Pietro Cavallini and Arnolfo di Cambio, Benozzo Gozzoli and Antoniazzo Romano, Onorio Longhi and Carlo Maderno are just some of the ‘signatures’ of frescoes and decorations.
Since the 8th century, the adjacent abbey has been the home of the Benedictine monks who guard the votive lamps and officiate at the liturgy. A milestone in the Basilica’s history was the great destructive fire of 1823, which caused a sensation in the world and led to a huge flow of money for reconstruction.
Pope Leo XII wrote the encyclical ‘Ad plurimas’ on 25 January 1825, inviting the bishops to collect offerings from the faithful. Eminent personalities of the Christian world, the kings of Sardinia, France, the Two Sicilies, the Netherlands and others responded to the appeal.
Tsar Nicholas I offered the malachite blocks of the two altars on either side of the transept and the Viceroy of Egypt sent the beautiful alabaster columns. Although studies on restoration theories were already advanced, the path taken was that of a basilica with a completely different appearance from its predecessor.
Easily reached by transport, the Basilica is on the Via Ostiense (hence the name Basilica Ostiense) two kilometres from Porta San Paolo. This area was the scene on 10 September 1943 of a strenuous but unfortunately ineffective defence of Rome from the German invasion.
In the area there are numerous historical, artistic and cultural attractions such as the Piramide Cestia, the Centrale Montemartini museum, an example of industrial archaeology, and various architectures. From Art Nouveau houses to Fascist-style buildings, all alternating with fine churches.
A district made lively by the university attendance of Rome’s third largest university. With a ‘movida’ that winds its way between trendy nightclubs alongside the more traditional Roman cuisine.
