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Basilica di Santa Stefano Rotondo al Celio
7 Via Santo Stefano Rotondo Roma
See route
An early Christian church dedicated to deacon and first martyr St. Stephan, is located on the Celio, one of the highest of the legendary seven hills of Rome
Basilica di Santo Stefano (483) is the oldest circular Christian church in Rome. A notable feature of this church is the Martyrology, the Cycle of Martyrdom, a series of thirty-four frescoes along the peripheral wall of the church depicting horrific scenes of martyrdom.
The crude scenes depicting the martydrom of numerous saints were intended to warn the young priests who would go to distant countries to convert the population to Christianity about the dangers they might encounter.
