Walks in Rome (Est. 2001)
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Walking Tours of Rome

San Lorenzo fuori le Mura


Map
Church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St Lawrence outside the Walls), Rome
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St Lawrence outside the Walls)

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, one of the seven deacons of Rome, 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. Pius IX (r 1846-78), the longest reigning pope, is also interred in the crypt. 

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. 

San Lorenzo fuori le Mura boasts a beautiful Cosmatesque pavement. The tomb of Cardinal Fieschi (who died in 1256), on the west wall of the church, reuses an ancient Roman sarcophagus, which sports a splendid relief of a wedding ceremony. 


The church's charming little cloister was built at the end of the 12th century.

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

Gallery
13th century mosaics, triumphal arch of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
The tomb of Pope Pius IX (r. 1846-78), church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
Bronze statue of Saint Lawrence by Stefano Galletti (1832-1905), church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St Lawrence Outside the Walls), Rome
Interior of the church of San Lorenzo fuori le mura (St Lawrence Outside the Walls), Rome
Cloister of the church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St Lawrence Outside the Wall), Rome
Church of San Lorenzo fuori le mura (St Lawrence Outsides the Walls), Rome
Ancient bas-relief (3rd century CE), reused in the 13th century tomb of Cardinal Fieschi, church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome

walking Tours of Rome

Copyright © David Lown 2001-2022. All Rights Reserved. 
  • Home
  • Personalised Tours
  • Vatican Tours
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • Images
  • 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
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
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      • Pope Clement X
      • Pope Innocent XI
      • Pope Alexander VIII
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      • Pope Clement XIII
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      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
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      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
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      • Door of Death
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    • Nave
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    • 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
    • Fountain of the Four Lions
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of the Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • Fountains of St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Churches
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    • San Luigi dei Francesi >
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    • San Saba
    • San Sebastiano fuori le Mura >
      • Cappella Albani
    • San Silvestro in Capite
    • San Vitale
    • Sant' Agnese fuori le Mura
    • Sant' Agnese in Agone
    • Sant' Agostino
    • Sant' Andrea del Quirinale
    • Sant' Andrea della Valle
    • Sant' Andrea delle Fratte
    • Sant' Antonio dei Portoghesi
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    • Sant' Ivo alla Sapienza
    • Santa Caterina dei Funari
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    • Santa Susanna
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    • Temple of Hercules
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    • Temple of Portunus
    • Theatre of Marcellus
    • Tomb of Caecilia Metella
    • Via Appia
  • Obelisks
    • 'Minerveo' Obelisk
    • 'Flaminio' Obelisk
    • 'Matteiano' Obelisk
    • 'Lateran' Obelisk
    • 'Dogali' Obelisk
    • 'Macuteo' Obelisk
    • 'Solare' Obelisk
    • 'Vatican' Obelisk
    • 'Agonalis' Obelisk
    • 'Sallustiano' Obelisk
    • 'Quirinale' Obelisk
    • 'Esquiline' Obelisk
    • 'Pinciano' Obelisk
    • 'Mediceo' Obelisk
    • 'Torlonia' Obelisks
    • 'Mussolini' Obelisk
    • 'Marconi' Obelisk
  • Mosaics
    • S. Agnese fuori le Mura
    • S. Cecilia in Trastevere
    • S. Clemente
    • S. Francesca Romana
    • S. Lorenzo fuori le Mura
    • S. Marco
    • S. Maria in Domnica
    • S. Maria in Trastevere
    • S. Maria Maggiore
    • S. Prassede
    • S. Pudenziana
    • S. Venanzio
    • S. Zenone
    • Ss. Cosma e Damiano
    • Ss. Nereo e Achilleo
  • Gallery
    • Ancient Rome
    • Borromini & the Baroque
    • Churches
    • Domes
    • Fountains
    • Old Photographs
    • Palaces
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
  • Vatican Museums
    • Borgia Apartment
    • Cappella Niccolina
    • Gallery of the Candelabras
    • Gallery of the Maps
    • Gallery of the Tapestries
    • 'Raphael' Tapestries
    • Stanza della Segnatura
    • Stanza di Eliodoro
    • Stanza dell' Incendio
  • Palazzi
    • Palazzo Barberini
    • Palazzo del Quirinale
    • Palazzo della Cancelleria
    • Palazzo della Consulta
    • Palazzo delle Esposizioni
    • Palazzo Farnese
    • Palazzo Venezia
    • Villa Farnesina
    • Villa Medici
  • Galleries & Museums
    • Galleria Borghese
    • Galleria Colonna
    • Galleria Doria-Pamphilj
    • Musei Capitolini
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    • Campo de' Fiori
    • Piazza del Campidglio
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Piazza del Quirinale
    • Piazza Navona
    • Piazza San Pietro
  • Miscellaneous
    • A Calendar of Saints
    • Cloisters
    • Domes
    • EUR
    • House of the Owls
    • Knights of Malta
    • 'Protestant' Cemetery
    • Quartiere Coppedè
    • Spanish Steps
    • 'Talking' Statues
    • Villa Borghese
    • Vittoriano