San Paolo, Rome

Name: San Paolo
Address: Piazzale San Paolo, 1, Rome, 00146, Italy
Telephone: +39 06 6988 0802

#16 among attractions in Rome

Unesco, Church, Top attraction, Historical place

Gallery (13)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / Public Domain • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Livioandronico2013 / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5 / I, Alberto Fernandez Fernandez / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5 / I, Alberto Fernandez Fernandez / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Palickap / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Dnalor 01 / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Dnalor 01 / URL

Facts and practical information

San Paolo fuori le Mura, or St. Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of the four major basilicas of Rome and a revered treasure of Christian heritage. This ancient church, located south of Rome's historic center, is known for its striking architecture and religious significance.

Founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century over the burial ground of St. Paul the Apostle, the basilica has undergone numerous reconstructions, most notably after a devastating fire in 1823. The current building, restored to mirror the original 4th-century structure, is famed for its vast interior and the impressive 80-column colonnade.

The church's facade is characterized by its ornate mosaics, which depict Jesus Christ, St. Paul, and other important Christian figures. Inside, the basilica features a lengthy nave lined with 24 marble columns and an apse adorned with mosaics of the Apostles. Beneath the high altar lies the tomb of St. Paul, making this site a significant pilgrimage destination.

San Paolo fuori le Mura is also renowned for its beautiful cloister, built between 1220 and 1241, which showcases a stunning array of medieval art, including intricate Cosmatesque mosaics.

Local name: Basilica di San Paolo fuori le mura Unesco: from 2009Architectural style: Paleochristian architectureCoordinates: 41°51'32"N, 12°28'32"E

Address

Piazzale San Paolo, 1OstienseRome 00146 Italy

Contact

+39 06 6988 0802

Website

Social media

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Rome

Day trips

San Paolo – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Piramide Cestia, Porta San Paolo, Aurelian Walls, Santi Aquila e Priscilla.

1.2 miN
Egyptian pyramid tomb built by Romans
Piramide Cestia, Rome
32 min walk • The Pyramid of Cestius is a striking cultural landmark nestled in the heart of Rome, Italy. This ancient pyramid, constructed between 18-12 BC, stands as a testament to the influence of Egyptian culture on Roman society.
1.3 miN
Museum, History museum, Historical place
Porta San Paolo, Rome
33 min walk • Porta San Paolo stands as one of the southern gateways to the heart of ancient Rome, Italy. This imposing structure once formed part of the Aurelian Walls, the defensive ramparts that encircled the city. Today, it is not only a testament to Rome's rich historical...
1.4 miNE
Part-ruined city walls built by Romans
Aurelian Walls, Rome
36 min walk • The Aurelian Walls are a line of city walls built between 271 AD and 275 AD in Rome, Italy, during the reign of the Roman Emperors Aurelian and Probus. They superseded the earlier Servian Wall built during the 4th century BC.
0.6 miN
Church
Santi Aquila e Priscilla, Rome
15 min walk • Santi Aquila e Priscilla is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to saints Aquila and Priscilla in the quartiere Portuense of Rome, on via Pietro Blaserna. The church was consecrated on November 15, 1992. In 1994, John Paul II designated it as a cardinal's titular church.
1.2 miN
Cemetery
Protestant Cemetery, Rome
31 min walk • The Cimitero Acattolico of Rome, often referred to as the Cimitero dei protestanti or Cimitero degli Inglesi, is a private cemetery in the rione of Testaccio in Rome.
0.5 miSE
Church
Basilica di Santa Maria Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola, Rome
14 min walk • The Basilica di Santa Maria Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola, entrusted to the care of the Society of St. Paul, is located in Via Antonino Pio, in the Ostiense quarter of the city of Rome, Italy.
0.9 miNE
Church
Santa Galla, Rome
25 min walk • The Santa Galla church is a place of Catholic worship in Rome located in the Ostiense district, in via Circonvallazione Ostiense.
1.2 miN
Museum
Porta San Paolo Railway Museum, Rome
30 min walk • The Rome Porta San Paolo Railway Park Museum is a museum in Rome, concerned with railway and tram transportation. It is housed next to the Roma Porta San Paolo railway station and the Piramide station of the metro.
1.2 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Hill
Monte Testaccio, Rome
31 min walk • Monte Testaccio is an artificial mound in Rome composed almost entirely of testae, fragments of broken ancient Roman pottery, nearly all discarded amphorae dating from the time of the Roman Empire, some of which were labelled with tituli picti.
1 miS
Church
Chiesa di Gesù Buon Pastore, Rome
25 min walk • Gesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola is a titular church in Rome. It is located in via Luigi Perna. Its parish was established by Pope Pius XI in 1937 and placed in the care of the Fathers of the Missionary Institute of the Pious Society of St Paul.
1.5 miNE
City gate
Porta Ardeatina, Rome
38 min walk • Porta Ardeatina was one of the gates of the Aurelian Walls in Rome. It was placed in a halfway point between Porta Appia and Porta San Paolo, close to the modern arches under which Via Cristoforo Colombo runs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is San Paolo open?

San Paolo is open:

Monday 7 am - 6 pm
Tuesday 7 am - 6 pm
Wednesday 7 am - 6 pm
Thursday 7 am - 6 pm
Friday 7 am - 6 pm
Saturday 7 am - 6 pm
Sunday 7 am - 6 pm

Which popular attractions are close to San Paolo?

Nearby attractions include Ponte Guglielmo Marconi, Rome (8 min walk), Catacomb of Saint Thecla, Rome (14 min walk), Basilica di Santa Maria Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola, Rome (14 min walk), Centrale Montemartini Museum, Rome (15 min walk).

How to get to San Paolo by public transport?

The nearest stations to San Paolo:

Bus

V.le S. Paolo • Lines: 23, 769, 792, n2 (3 min walk)
Ostiense/S. Paolo • Lines: 23, 769, 792, n2;nMB (4 min walk)

Light rail

Basilica San Paolo • Lines: Fc2 (7 min walk)
Roma Porta San Paolo • Lines: Fc2 (31 min walk)

Metro

Basilica San Paolo • Lines: B (7 min walk)
Garbatella • Lines: B (17 min walk)

Train

Roma Trastevere (27 min walk)
Villa Bonelli (33 min walk)

Tram

Stazione Trastevere • Lines: 8 (29 min walk)
Gianicolense/San Camillo • Lines: 8 (34 min walk)