Santa Maria in Via Lata

  Along the Via delle Corso (one of the busiest commercial districts in Rome) and beside the Palazzo Doria Pamphili, is a tiny 17th century minor basilica, the Santa Maria in Via Lata (the ancient street name for via Corso). Early documents indicate that the original building on this site may have been a warehouse. The lower portion of the basilica (I.e. About 20 meters below street level) was the home of St. Luke (secretary to St. Paul). The documentsentioned above also indicated that in the fifth century, this was the first Christian place of worship in the chapel (oratory) in a Roman building, now beneath the current church. It was also here that St. Paul spent two years under house arrest while awaiting trial for his beliefs (he was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own choosing in the accompaniment of a soldier). St. Paul often summoned followers to the crypt in order to continue his preachings. In addition, some documents indicate that St. Peter would visit St. Luke and St. Paul here while St. Paul was under house arrest.

The stairs from the front lobby of the church leading down to the lower level rooms.

The chapel (oratory) area where St. Paul would preach and where the 5th century worship took place.

The case on the left side of the picture contain the chains that bound St. Paul.

The chains of St. Paul.

Passage way into an adjoining room.