Editor Pick
Sant'Agnese Fuori le Mura
- August 2, 2007
- Rated 4 of 5 by
rufusni from Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Although the church dates back to Pope Honorius I in the 7th century, it was altered later with a Baroque style. The original structure of the basilica remains as well as a mosiac in the apse which depicts Saint Agnes with the pope who is holding a model of the church.
The church is dedicated to saint Agnes who is said to be a 13 year old martyred in 303 A.D. in persecutions of Christians by the emperor Diocletian. She was buried in the catacombs here with an enlarged space in front of it.
The catacombs were burial places that were cut into the soft rock outside the walls of the city. Many Christians were buried in the catacombs because of beliefs in bodily resurrection. The catacombs consist of corridors with niches cut into the walls, for bodies to be placed in and then sealed with a slab. There were also rooms off the corridors which had similar niches, but often belonged to a family.
It's possible to have a tour of part of the catacombs for 5 euros. The atmosphere in them is quite unpleasant, dusty, musty, and humid but it is probably nothing compared to these passages lit with oil lamps and the smell of decaying bodies. Our guide was quite good at explaining how the bodies were buried here, how graves were marked and pointing out several interesting things in the catacombs. The tour isn't very long and it gives a good insight into the burial of the dead in the catacombs. Despite legends it's very unlikely Christians met to worship down in the catacombs but rather the Christian symbols engraved marked graves of Christians. It was an interesting way to see a different side of Rome, particular as I have some interest in early Christian art and the catacombs show signs of the earliest symbolism used. Note that photography is not permitted down in the catacombs, however, there is a small range of items for sale in the church including some postcard and terracota oil lamps.
Entrance to the church is free but the tour of the catacombs costs 5 euros. Opening hours are the same for both at Monday 9am-noon, Tuesday-Saturday 9am-noon and 4pm-6pm and Sunday 4-6pm. There is also the church of Santa Constanza in the same complex which is worth a visit. Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura is easily reached by bus from Termini Station with frequent services including an express service with fewer stops. A trip out here is well worth it.
From journal Glimpsing Rome