The Origins and Martyrdom
The Basilica stands on the site traditionally considered the burial place of the Apostle Paul, about three kilometers from the Acque Salvie (now Tre Fontane), where the Saint was beheaded. Paul, along with Peter, fell victim to Nero's persecution following the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. The Apostle's tomb, located directly beneath the papal altar, has been a destination of incessant pilgrimages for centuries.
From the Catacombs to the Constantinian Basilica
Following the ban imposed in 257 by Emperor Valerian on Christians from gathering in cemeteries, the remains of Peter and Paul were prudently transferred to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano. They remained there until the Constantinian era, when, having obtained the freedom of the Roman Catholic Church, they were finally released. of worship, they returned to their respective tombs. Emperor Constantine erected a first basilica over Paul's tomb, consecrated on November 18, 324, by Pope Sylvester I.
Soon becoming inadequate for the crowds of faithful, the church was rebuilt in grandiose style in 391 under the joint reign of Theodosius I, Arcadius, and Valentinian II. The project, entrusted to the architect Ciriades, envisioned a structure with five naves supported by 80 columns.
In the following centuries, the Basilica was enriched of extraordinary works:
The Triumphal Arch, restored by Galla Placidia and Leo I;
The raising of the transept under Gregory I to place the altar above the tomb of the Saint;
The Ciborium by Arnolfo di Cambio (1285) and the monumental Candelabrum for the Paschal Candle by the Vassalletto family (12th century).
The Fire of 1823 and Reconstruction
On the night of July 15, 1823, a devastating fire destroyed much of the structure. Miraculously, the transept and some treasures (the ciborium, the triumphal arch, the apse mosaic, and the candelabrum) were saved.
Pope Leo XII promoted its reconstruction with the encyclical Ad plurimas, gathering donations from around the world: Tsar Nicholas I sent blocks of malachite and lapis lazuli, while King Fuad I of Egypt donated precious alabaster columns.
Current appearance: Exterior and Interior
The Quadriportico: Built between 1890 and 1928, it houses the statue of Saint Paul by Giuseppe Obici at its center, depicting the Apostle with a sword (symbol of martyrdom) and books (symbol of doctrine).
The Facade: It is decorated with 19th-century mosaics that recall 10th-century motifs. It depicts the four prophets, the Agnus Dei with the twelve lambs, and, in the tympanum, Christ blessing between Peter and Paul.
Interior: The Latin cross plan features five naves separated by 80 monolithic granite columns. The floor and walls are covered in intricate polychrome marble.
Apse: Having survived the fire, it houses the magnificent Venetian mosaic of Christ the Redeemer enthroned, flanked by Saints Peter, Paul, Andrew, and Luke.