I have searched for information and everything is pretty old from this board. My husband has been reading some recent articles on this Basilica and would like to visit it in October.

Since it isn't mentioned much, I'm wondering if it's worth a visit? Our stay in Rome will be fairly short this time.

Sharon J

It's away from the city bustle, but not a long way; on a tree lined quiet street and although not terribly impressive from the outside (I'm not into churches much unless they're "imposing"), the inside is worth the visit. Not much of the original church interior exists due to the fire 150 years ago, but it's still awe inspiring on the inside.

It is one of the five great basilicas of Rome.

You will be able to determine whether it is worth a visit by taking a look at the three 360 degree panorama here:

http://tinyurl.com/m2vcyq

Peter

The cloister is worth seeing all on its own, but the thing that fascinates me most at this church is the model of the church that you can walk through the middle of.

Thanks everyone, especially Peter for the great website....amazing.

Now that I have seen the picture, I know where it is and have passed it many times on the drive in and out of Rome to and from the airport. I remember many years ago asking our driver what it was, but didn't quite understand what he was saying. I can't believe we have never visited it before. Again, thanks.

This is a must see on our trip in October.

Sharon J

St paul outside the Walls is one of the great Basilicas of Rome. It is fairly Baroque inside (late period), becasue it has burnt down several times and the inside is not that ancient. Like San Giovanni Laterno, St Paul outside the walls has been extensively "redecorated" in later period styles because of fires. It looks like has some great flooring and mosaics that I presume did survive because they were fire-proof. Places that did not burn down can have a lot of Baroque redecorations also (Like St Prassede and St Cecilia), but more of the earlier period styling is preserved when the redecoration was optional.

Sharon

Since you are "in the neighborhood" take a look at visiting the 3 fountains church. This is the church situated on the site where St. Paul was beheaded. Supposedly his head bounced 3 times (gross!!) and each place a fountain sprang up.

This is a Benedictine cloistered monastary. Try to get there during vespers or one of the holy hours where they sing. You can hear the song through the church but not see the singers. Ghostly, eerily beautiful. Also there is a wonderful shop there that sells icons which the monks make. They have a school of icon making (iconography?) and some of them are spectacular. They also make the most incredible chocolate bars and liqueurs. Free tastings so don't drive.

Here's a pic of St. John's outside the wall.

And here is a pic of the 3 fountains church. VERY OLD - early medieval church. BTW both churches are accessible with restrictions. 3 fountains has a gravel path and you can only see 1 of the fountains (others involve steps). St Pauls has some steps (toward the altar). We were there when there was an investiture of a number of priests and deacons so we had to skirt around the ceremony.

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We were there when there was an investiture of a number of priests and deacons so we had to skirt around the ceremony.

Thanks for all this great information. Is it an easy walk to these places when visiting the Basilica?

The reason we became interested in the Basilica was because a very good friend of ours went to Rome in December to see an investiture for a very good friend.

We can only visit these places on Sunday, so I hope everything will be open?

Sharon J

Yes, everything is within a block or so. Just ask. I don't know about the shops being open on Sunday, best guess would be yes.

These are all wonderful. Oh, to live long enough to see all of Rome.

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Originally posted by Ginny58:
These are all wonderful. Oh, to live long enough to see all of Rome.

Rome - one life is not enough. Every time I go I find new stuff. And even the old stuff usually has new stuff. The Galleria Bernini has this 8 foot by 6 foot high display of snapshots of stuff that is "in the basement". Literally in the basement!!! Or if not in the basement then out on tour. And if you don't think the other museums don't have the same full basements think again!!

Here is one of my favorites. This angel is one of a set. Previously attributed to GL Bernini but now there is no attribution. They are at the Capitoline museum. We saw them in 1998. We have never seen them again until this May. It was like finding an old friend.