Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura

Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura

Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura
5
Historic SitesReligious SitesChurches & Cathedrals
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
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Plan your visit

The area

Address
Neighborhood: Ostiense
How to get there
  • Basilica S. Paolo • 5 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • BellBoy53
    Brisbane, Australia616 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Big and Peaceful
    Staying in nearby Ostiense, we walked to the Basilica and were amazed by its size and how quiet and uncrowded it was, even with a couple of guided tours on-site. inside there is an array of of large columns in the central part, beautiful gold inlaid ceiling mosaics, plenty of marble flooring and three small chapels, some of which were holding service. The front garden has a statue of St Paul and offers another peaceful place to sit and reflect. It is away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist spots of Rome and is well worth a visit.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 17, 2023
  • MtEverest
    245 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Another basilica for the faithful
    Amazing basilica of St. Paul with great architecture and history, starting from the statue of Paul in the garden. There are paintings of all the Popes starting with Peter and ending with Francis. Tradition has it when the church runs out of space for more Papal faces, that is the end of the world. There is a store, a cafe, and a rarity in Rome, a public bathroom. An easy bus ride from Rome center.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 24, 2023
  • David G
    Maryland22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An Underrated Church that is Well Worth a Visit!
    Visited here when I had a spare day in Rome. It's a bit out of the way and so was almost empty when I visited (a refreshing change from the more iconic spots in Rome), but it was a gorgeous church, which features the remains of St. Paul and portraits of every Pope. The cafe was a nice spot for a light lunch.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written January 14, 2024
  • AUKTourist
    North East England, United Kingdom977 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A very special Basilica well worth the journey
    A magnificent Basilica outside of the city but well worth the effort to get there. The Basilica contains a number of altars dedicated to saints, but of course the tomb of St Paul is here. Simply laid out you descend several steps and come within feet of St Paul’s tomb. Nothing over the top, a place of prayer.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 18, 2024
  • Brad
    Hong Kong, China174,793 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the four Papal Basilicas of Rome
    This is one of the four Papal Basilicas of Rome. It is located south of the old Aurelian Wall and was originally constructed in the 4th century upon what is believed to be the location of the burial of the apostle St. Paul. The basilica is around a 10 minute walk from the Basilica St. Paul Metro Station and is open from 7am to 6.30pm daily. This is a major site for Catholic pilgrimage in Rome. The basilica is colossal in size like fellow papal basilicas more centrally located within the city centre and at Vatican City. Unfortunately, St. Paul was gutted by fire in 1823 so much of what you see today is a rebuild from the early 19th-century. Quite a few points of interest worth making effort to see starting with the atrium in front of the basilica is very impressive. This is where you see the statue of St. Paul flanked by palm trees surrounded by four massive colonnades and the delightful golden mosaic facade. Within the basilica there are a massive central nave with marble floor and coffered, patterned ceiling. Make sure to see the Pope portraits the line the upper walls, the medieval ciborium and candelabrum situated in the centre nave as well as the delightful apse mosaics behind. In the end, St. Paul Outside the Walls is a very interesting church attraction even for non Catholics. It is less convenient to visit given its location south of the city centre which means you will most likely encounter smaller crowds here compared to places like St. Peter's Basilica. Best to allow yourself a few hours minimum if you want to make way to St. Paul's from hotels in the city centre. It is also potentially worth combining with other attractions not far from here such as the Pyramid of Caius Cestius which is two metro stations north and a convenient stop to make when heading back into the city centre of Rome.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 20, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles2,212 reviews
Excellent
1,865
Very good
318
Average
27
Poor
2
Terrible
0

rosannt2016
67 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Outside the historic centre but so thoroughly worth the visit.
The outside is peaceful, tranquil, perfect for reflection. The inside tends to be as artistically glorious as all other Italian churches but no less characteristic.
The Holy door I find to be incredibly beautiful.
Written May 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dapper777
Monaco65,504 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Friends
With its imposing structure, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls is one of the four basilicas of Rome, the largest after that one of St. Peter: it stands on the site where, according to legend, the apostle Paul was buried.
On that spot the first Christians erected a sepulchral chapel, later transformed into a basilica by Constantine and consecrated by Pope Sylvester I in 324.
To enter the basilica you have two options: to the north through the Gregorian Portico, facing the Ildefonso Schuster Park or to the west from the "Quadriportico".
In it, surrounded by the large colonnade, the imposing statue of St. Paul, made of Carrara marble by Giuseppe Obici, will welcome you. Built on the burial place of Paul (originally Saul) of Tarsus, the basilica was destroyed by the fire of 1823 and rebuilt starting in 1826 thanks to the contributions of the faithful from all over the world.
The portico, which was built between 1890 and 1928 by Guglielmo Calderini on a project by Luigi Poletti, has a row of columns at the entrance, double on both sides and triple on the opposite side. The side walls are decorated with medallions depicting the twelve apostles and some disciples of St. Paul, while in the upper band the splendid nineteenth-century mosaics stand out, again by Luigi Poletti, author,among other things, of the bell tower and the portico on the northern side.
We visited this church about 25 years ago and we had a great desire to see it again after so many years through the eyes of older and more mature people.
There are no words to describe it. Maybe one : wonderful.
it is certainly one of the most beautiful buildings to see in Rome.
Amazing construction.
Elegant, imposing,shining and beautiful place to visit and to stay inside for some time.
Nice garden outside and gorgeous paintings inside.

We visited this church about 25 years ago and we had a great desire to see it again after so many years .
Splendid, it is certainly one of the most beautiful things to see in Rome.
Amazing construction. Elegant, imposing, shinning and beautiful place to visit and stay inside some time.
A church off the regular beaten path for tourists, but, definitely, well worth a visit.
It is impressive and massive, yet quiet.
A feast for the eyes.
Highly recommended.
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brad
Hong Kong, China174,793 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
This is one of the four Papal Basilicas of Rome. It is located south of the old Aurelian Wall and was originally constructed in the 4th century upon what is believed to be the location of the burial of the apostle St. Paul. The basilica is around a 10 minute walk from the Basilica St. Paul Metro Station and is open from 7am to 6.30pm daily.

This is a major site for Catholic pilgrimage in Rome. The basilica is colossal in size like fellow papal basilicas more centrally located within the city centre and at Vatican City. Unfortunately, St. Paul was gutted by fire in 1823 so much of what you see today is a rebuild from the early 19th-century.

Quite a few points of interest worth making effort to see starting with the atrium in front of the basilica is very impressive. This is where you see the statue of St. Paul flanked by palm trees surrounded by four massive colonnades and the delightful golden mosaic facade. Within the basilica there are a massive central nave with marble floor and coffered, patterned ceiling. Make sure to see the Pope portraits the line the upper walls, the medieval ciborium and candelabrum situated in the centre nave as well as the delightful apse mosaics behind.

In the end, St. Paul Outside the Walls is a very interesting church attraction even for non Catholics. It is less convenient to visit given its location south of the city centre which means you will most likely encounter smaller crowds here compared to places like St. Peter's Basilica. Best to allow yourself a few hours minimum if you want to make way to St. Paul's from hotels in the city centre. It is also potentially worth combining with other attractions not far from here such as the Pyramid of Caius Cestius which is two metro stations north and a convenient stop to make when heading back into the city centre of Rome.
Written May 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BellBoy53
Brisbane, Australia616 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Staying in nearby Ostiense, we walked to the Basilica and were amazed by its size and how quiet and uncrowded it was, even with a couple of guided tours on-site. inside there is an array of of large columns in the central part, beautiful gold inlaid ceiling mosaics, plenty of marble flooring and three small chapels, some of which were holding service. The front garden has a statue of St Paul and offers another peaceful place to sit and reflect. It is away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist spots of Rome and is well worth a visit.
Written November 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MtEverest
Las Vegas245 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Amazing basilica of St. Paul with great architecture and history, starting from the statue of Paul in the garden. There are paintings of all the Popes starting with Peter and ending with Francis. Tradition has it when the church runs out of space for more Papal faces, that is the end of the world. There is a store, a cafe, and a rarity in Rome, a public bathroom. An easy bus ride from Rome center.
Written December 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dominik Kiezik
Warsaw, Poland5,359 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
In my opinion, it is more beautiful and majestic than the Vatican, even though such beauty is difficult to equate. Place of the grave of Saint Paul. Great high, qualitatively well made. It is interesting that, although it is probably the most majestic in the Middle, maybe because it is slightly out of the center, it is less visited than by huge crowds, e.g. traveling to Our Lady of the Snows (Maggiore). I heartily recommend. You can see that the Church firmly believed that St. Paul died or at least was buried there for some time.
Written May 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LittleDan500
Liverpool, UK331 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
This is beautiful with a lovely garden and incredible pillars and marble floor.

There is a cafe inside and one just outside. I had a coffee and sandwich inside and it was one of the worst I had plus the service wasn't pleasant. Try the one outside of it, near the rear of the entrance if you want to eat.

It's over an hour walk from the centre of Rome so bear that in mind if you are walking in extreme heat. There is a pyramid on the way if you decide to walk and it's worth a quick look of it from outside.
Written June 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

369geico
Willis, TX1,033 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Very large Basilica that is in fact attached to Vatican but located in Roman territory outside the Vatican walls like an island.
Then at the souvenir shop of that place they have a mail box but you need to use Vatican stamps only if you want to use this Vatican mail service, that the shop of course can provide.
Anyway they show some fairplay as I mailed my postcard from there with an Italian stamp to make an experiment. Nice people, they forwarded the card but not from Vatican with a seal from Vatican but from Roma Fiumicino ... I would have loved to get an Italian stamp with the Vatican seal but they are watching carefully.
Otherwise the Basilica is gorgeous inside but the ourside area does not look well maintained that is surprising.
And like any sought after sites, there is a bunch of tourist buses around.
Written December 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

openheartmusicals
Coeur d'Alene, ID21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
Beautiful, quiet, uncrowded, reverent. The basilica relic (easily visible) is the chain that held Paul during his first captivity. You can kneel before a partial view of the sarcophagus holding some of the Apostle Paul’s remains, radio carbon dated and verified as much as is possible 2000+ years later. Pretty gardens; good gift shop and restaurant. We were glad to escape the crowds and long lines and instead spend a relaxed, reverent day at this beautiful basilica.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AUKTourist
North East England, UK977 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
A magnificent Basilica outside of the city but well worth the effort to get there. The Basilica contains a number of altars dedicated to saints, but of course the tomb of St Paul is here. Simply laid out you descend several steps and come within feet of St Paul’s tomb. Nothing over the top, a place of prayer.
Written May 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura, Rome

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