Guided Tour of the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana & its Subterrain

The famous 4th-century basilica holds a special place among Christians as it is arguably, the oldest place of Christian worship in all of Rome. On this exciting tour, your guide will shed light on the basilica’s Christian and Roman roots going back 2000 years while taking you around its ancient interiors. Dive into the basilica’s comprehensive history, including its existence as a Roman bath house in the 2nd century.

The apse with its wonderful mosaic display of Christ and his Apostles along with a gilded cross encrusted with jewels is undoubtedly a highlight of this tour. The evocative mosaic was, according to the 19th-century historian Ferdinand Gregorovius, ‘the most beautiful mosaic in Rome’ and it is easy to see why. Take some time to appreciate this intricate work of art created somewhere between 384 to 417 AD. It also inspired the Byzantine mosaics that followed in the coming centuries. The next stop is the chapel of St. Peter on the left aisle. You will notice a seemingly unremarkable wooden piece which, as your guide will inform you, is a remnant of the altar used by St. Peter to say the Mass during his stay with the Pudentes.

Visit the Subterrain, Marian Oratory, and the Caetani Chapel

The second part of the tour will take you underground to visit the archaeological excavations which unearthed, among other things, two floors of a 2nd-century Roman Insula. You can’t help but feel a sense of awe and wonder when standing there! After which, your guide will lead you back up to the Marian Oratory to watch the frescoes featuring the baptism of the Pudente family by St. Peter. Your tour will come to an end after visiting the Mausoleum of Cardinal Enrico Caetani. The chapel is noteworthy, if only, for its Carrara marble high relief depicting the Adoration of the Magi.

Itinerary

• Santa Pudenziana Basilica
• Subterrain
• Ancient Marian Oratory
• Mausoleum of Card. Enrico Caetani