Church of Santa Maria in Via Lata

5314 km

306 Via del Corso Roma

See route

Underground House of Sts. Peter and Paul

The Church of Santa Maria in Via Lata boasts both a baroque style church at street level and an underground crypt that dates to the arrival of the early Christians and has been verified as being a church from the 3rd century AD. According to local tradition, the underground is believed to be one of two possible locations where St. Paul was placed under house arrest during his first visit to Rome. St. Peter is also believed to stay at the location as one of his early residences with the first Christians. The place also served as a "Diakoni" as early as the 7th century AD, which were distribution centers to the poor and vulnerable that were designated by the popes during ancient times and the middle ages.

Location Video



More Photos