The Basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le mura, located along the Appian Way in Rome, is a historic Catholic site and one of the Seven Pilgrimage Churches visited during the Jubilee. Built in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine, it initially honored Saints Peter and Paul, whose relics were temporarily housed there during persecution. Later, it became associated with Saint Sebastian, whose remains were interred there and later moved to St. Peter’s Basilica in 826.
The current structure is a 17th-century reconstruction ordered by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, featuring a single nave with a carved wooden ceiling and various chapels, including the Chapel of Relics, which holds artifacts such as an arrow from Saint Sebastian’s martyrdom and a stone bearing Jesus’ footprints. The basilica also houses notable artworks, including Bernini’s Salvator Mundi and statues by Giuseppe Giorgetti. Below the church lie extensive catacombs, enhancing its historical and spiritual significance.
- Address
Via Appia Antica 136, Rome, Italy
- Web
https://www.sansebastianofuorilemura.org/ - Visiting Hours
Everyday from 10:00 to 17:00 - What to see
Basilica, Jesus’ footprints, Salvator Mundi