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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

St Lawrence Outside the Walls

19/3/2019

 
Map
Church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura

The basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St Lawrence Outside the Walls) is located in the north of the city, near the Via Tiburtina, the ancient Roman road to Tibur (modern Tivoli).
​
Saint Lawrence was martyred in 258 and his grave soon attracted hordes of pilgrims. Constantine the Great had a sanctuary built on the site, which was rebuilt in 579 by Pope Pelagius II (r. 579-90). St Lawrence is buried in the crypt, under the high altar. 

Centuries later the church 
was radically remodelled by Pope Honorius III (r. 1216-27). The apse was demolished, the nave was extended westwards and the orientation was completely reversed. The original nave was raised and this became the chancel of the new church. This explains why the late 6th century mosaics appear to be on the wrong side of the chancel arch. 

The mosaics commemorate St Lawrence and the building of the church in his honour by Pope Pelagius II. In the centre sits Christ on the blue globe of the firmament. To his right stand St Peter, St Lawrence and Pope Pelagius, who offers a model of the church to Christ. To his left stand St Paul, St Stephen (some of whose relics are kept in the church) and St Hippolytus.  

San Lorenzo fuori le Mura boasts a beautiful Cosmatesque pavement. Its charming little cloister was built at the end of the 12th century.

The tomb of Cardinal Fieschi (who died in 1256), on the west wall, reuses an ancient Roman sarcophagus, which sports a splendid relief of a wedding ceremony. 

On the night of July 19th, 1943, allied bombs fell on San Lorenzo, partly destroying the ancient basilica (the target was meant to have been the nearby railway station).

San Lorenzo fuori le Mura was the only church in Rome to suffer serious damage during the Second World War, but by the end of the decade it had been carefully rebuilt. 

Mosaics, church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
6th century mosaics
Mosaic, San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
6th century mosaic
Mosaic, San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
Christ flanked by St Peter & St Paul
Interior of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
Interior
Romanesque cloister, San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
12th century cloister
Tomb of Cardinal Fieschi, San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
Tomb of Cardinal Fieschi
Old photograph of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
Old photograph of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura
The bombing of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, July 19th, 1943, Rome
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura after it had been hit by allied bombs on July 19th, 1943
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura

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    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
    small-group walking tours
    of Rome.

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  • Home
  • Private Tours
  • Small-Group Tours
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
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      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
      • Queen Christina of Sweden
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      • Pope Alexander VIII
      • Pope Innocent XII
      • Pope Benedict XIV
      • Pope Clement XIII
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      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
      • Pope Pius XI
      • Pope Pius XII
      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
      • Piazza di Spagna
      • Piazza Navona
      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque