7 Pilgrimage Churches of Rome #7

It was a very long walk by the time I reached number 7. I was becoming quite exhausted. But when I passed through security and stepped into Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura, it absolutely took my breath away! It was as if I had stepped into some fairy tale palace that someone could only dream about, but that could never really exist. The place is phenomenal and there really are no words to describe it. Pictures can never fully tell the story either.

To get there most of the way I was walking on Via delle Sette Chiese (Way of the seven churches) after leaving the ancient Appian Way. That path alone was magical.

This church was originally built by Emperor Constantine in honor of St Paul who was beheaded in this area about two miles outside the Roman walls. The remains of St Paul were removed from the catacombs and are now kept at this site beneath the altar. The original church was mostly destroyed by fire in 1823. But through artists and donors around the world it has been restored to be much like the original church.

It was absolutely well worth the long walk. Truly an extraordinary sanctuary.