Basilica Of Saints John And Paul In Rome, Italy Editorial Image

Inside view of the Basilica of Saints John and Paul on the Celian Hill in Rome, Italy. The inside has three naves, with pillars joined to the original columns. The altar is built over a bath, which holds the remains of the two martyrs. The apse is frescoed with Christ in Glory 1588 by Cristoforo Roncalli one of the painters called il Pomarancio; while below this fresco are three paintings: a Martyrdom of St John, a Martyrdom of St Paul, and the Conversion of Terenziano 1726 by Giovanni Domenico Piastrini, Giacomo Triga, and Pietro Andrea Barbieri respectively.The church is said to be built in 398, by will of the senator Pammachius, over the home of two Roman soldiers, John and Paul, martyred under the emperor Julian in 362. The church was damaged during the sack by Alaric I 410 and because of an earthquake 442, restored by Pope Paschal I 824, sacked again by the Normans 1084, and again restored, with the addition of a monastery and a bell tower. During excavations performed in the 19th century, a series of Ancient Roman rooms were discovered under the nave of the church.