Top Christian Sites in Rome Linked to the Apostle Paul You Must Visit

Top Christian Sites in Rome Linked to the Apostle Paul You Must Visit

In the winter of 49 AD, Apostle Paul set foot on European soil for the first time, landing in Neapolis (modern-day Kavala) after a two-day journey. It wasn’t until 58 AD that Paul finally arrived in Rome. During his travels between 57 and 59 AD, Paul returned to Jerusalem, where he was arrested in Caesarea for causing unrest. After appealing to Caesar as a Roman citizen, he was granted the right to be brought to Rome. Along the way, he was shipwrecked and ended up on the island of Malta before finally reaching the capital of the Roman Empire. Once in Rome, Paul was placed under house arrest, where he continued his mission by writing letters and preaching to all who came to him. However, in 64 AD, Emperor Nero sought to divert blame for the Great Fire of Rome by persecuting Christians. Paul became one of the victims of this brutal campaign, arrested and eventually transferred to the Mamertine Prison, where he would face his final days.

The story of Apostle Paul in Rome is both poignant and powerful, as it was here that he wrote some of his most influential letters and ultimately gave his life for his faith.

1. The Church of St. Paul alla Regola: An ancient tradition identifies the foundation of the church as being in the same location where the Apostle Paul lived in Rome and wrote some of his letters.

1. Saint Paul Outside the Walls:  This magnificent Basilica was built on this location that is believed to be the location of the burial site of the Apostle Paul. The tomb is under the high altar in the crypt of the basilica 

1. San Giuseppe dei Falegnami: Just north of the Forum stands San Giuseppe dei Falegnami (St. Joseph’s of the Carpenters), a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Joseph of Nazareth. Beneath this structure are the remains of the traditional site of the imprisonments of the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter in Rome. This prison was simply known as “Carcer” (“prison”) in Paul’s day. The term “Mamertine” was attributed to the prison in the Medieval Period. 

1. The Mamertine Prison: The ancient Carcer Tullianum, also known as the Mamertine Prison, was a maximum security prison, which for many centuries housed the enemies of Rome, while awaiting their execution. According to tradition, the Apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned here, shortly before they were to be executed. 

1. St. Paul’s gate: also called the Ostian Gate, is an impressive structure from the Roman era, framed within semicircular towers. The gate is part of the Aurelian Walls and it is one of the best-preserved gates in Rome’s wall system.  The gate marked the beginning of the Via Ostiensis, which was the most important road in ancient Rome. Running 19 miles west from the city of Rome to the seaport of Ostia Antica. 

1. Abbey of the Three Fountains: the traditional site of the Apostle Paul’s martyrdom. Upon orders of Emperor Nero, the Apostle Paul is beheaded in an area found to the south of Rome, Acquae Salviae. His head bounces to the ground three times, miraculously causing a stream of water to spring at each of these points. Thus, the three springs become known to believers who collect the water for its miraculous properties up until more modern times. The streams of the Abbey of the Three Fountains that now stands over the location where Saint Paul was martyred were closed but may still be visited.  

Whether you’re a history buff, a spiritual seeker, or simply curious about the ancient roots of Christianity, our “Steps of Apostle Paul in Greece & Rome” journey offers a unique opportunity to connect with Apostle Paul’s legacy in the heart of Rome.