The Basilica di San Sebastiano fuori le Mura (St Sebastian Outside the Walls) was founded in the 4th century when it was dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul and known as the Basilica Apostolorum. By the Middle Ages it had been re-dedicated to St Sebastian, who was thought to have been buried in the catacombs below.
The church was rebuilt at the behest of Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577-1633), nephew of Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21), by Flaminio Ponzio (1560-1613). Work began in 1608, but was not complete when Ponzio died in 1613. It was completed by Jan Van Santen (1550-1621), a Dutch-born architect, better known as Giovanni Vasanzio, who spent most of his working life in Rome. The dedicatory inscription on the facade reads: SCIPIO ⋅ CARD ⋅ BVRGHESIVS ⋅ S ⋅ R ⋅ E ⋅ MAIOR ⋅ POENITENTIARIVS ⋅ AN ⋅ DOM ⋅ MDCXXII.
Nave
One of the glories of the interior is the beautiful wooden ceiling, which is intricately carved with palm branches (a symbol of martyrdom) and the heraldic dragons and eagles of the Borghese family. It was designed by Vasanzio.
Central Section of the Wooden Ceiling
The Martyrdom of St Sebastian, in the centre, is the work of Annibale Durante. The ceiling also sports the coat of arms of Cardinal Scipione Borghese and Pope Gregory XVI (r. 1831-46), who ordered its restoration.
Saint Sebastian by Giuseppe Giorgetti
The Chapel of St Sebastian has a very fine statue of the saint by Giuseppe Giorgetti (fl. 1668-82).
The huge marble bust of Christ the Saviour (1678) is a late work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680).
Salvator Mundi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
The Cappella Albani(last chapel on the right) is dedicated to Pope St Fabian (r. 236-50).