The Basilica of
Santa Cecilia
in Trastevere
As we have already mentioned in several articles, Rome is a very large city, very populated and therefore rich in monuments.
Among its monuments, the ones that stand out the most are churches of all sizes and categories: it is practically impossible to walk around the Eternal City without coming across at least one church
Even today, therefore, in this article we will talk about a church and to be precise about the Basilica of Santa Cecilia, one of the many churches that rise in the Trastevere district.
Do you want to find out some more information about this Minor Basilica?
Very well, then keep reading this article and find out all the information we have collected for you!
Two words about the Basilica of Santa Cecilia
The Basilica of Santa Cecilia, as we said at the beginning of this article, is located in the Trastevere district (in Piazza di Santa Cecilia at number 22, to be exact) and is a place of worship of the Catholic religion. It is, as mentioned, a Minor Basilica, that is a particularly important place of worship for the Catholic religion.
The Basilica of Santa Cecilia is dedicated to Santa Cecilia, a Roman noble who converted to Christianity many years ago who was persecuted and killed for her religious belief. This Saint is the patron saint of musicians, poets and singers.
The history of the Basilica of Santa Cecilia
According to what has been handed down by legends, the Basilica of Santa Cecilia stands where the house of the Saint’s family once stood.
Legends also tell that one night, Pope Pasquale I dreamed of the Saint who revealed to him the place of her burial. After this dream, this Pope decided to build this basilica where another church once stood and, finally, he had the body of the deceased saint brought into it.
Also the past chronicles tell us that, during the renovations of 1599, the tomb of the Saint was opened and it was discovered with astonishment that her body was still intact. For this reason, the sculptor Stefano Maderno was asked to create a statue (still present in the Basilica of Santa Cecilia) that testified to this amazing discovery over the centuries.
Why visit the Basilica of Santa Cecilia?
Observing the Basilica of Santa Cecilia, we must immediately admit two things: we are not in front of a colosal church, but despite this it is truly a very beautiful church that already fascinates from its beautiful outdoor garden.
But the beauty of the Basilica of Santa Cecilia is not only what we see on the outside, because its interior leaves you absolutely amazed!
The most striking thing in the Basilica of Santa Cecilia is its elegance without excessive pomp. Everything in this church exudes beauty, but there is no exaggeration in it and this makes it very elegant… a real feast for the eyes!
There are many artistic works inside the Basilica of Santa Cecilia that deserve to be observed, but the Last Judgment by Pietro Cavallini and the ciborium by Arnolfo di Cambio deserve particular attention.
But the Basilica of Santa Cecilia also has its underground charm.
As mentioned, in fact, legend has it that the Basilica of Santa Cecilia was built over the house of the saint, and in fact under the floor of this church it is possible to observe the remains of a Roman domus and other pre-existing buildings. The treasures in the crypt are also magnificent and deserve to be seen and admired if you visit the Basilica of Santa Cecilia.
How to visit the Basilica of Santa Cecilia
As we always say when we talk about churches, the first thing to do to visit the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is to respect the sacredness of the place. It does not matter what your religion is or if you do not worship any deities: when you enter a church, you must respect the sacredness of the place and those who attend it for reasons of faith.
That said, to visit the Basilica of Santa Cecilia the following times must be respected:
- Monday to Saturday, from 10h to 12:30h and from 16h to 18h.
- On public holidays and Sundays, from 11:30h to 12:30h and from 16h to 18h.
The Monastic Choir with the frescoes by Cavallini, on the other hand, can only be visited in the morning at the times indicated above.
Everything that is present in the Basilica of Santa Cecilia can be visited.
If, however, you want to discover much more about the Basilica of Santa Cecilia when you visit it, you should know that it is possible to take advantage of the guided tours.
For more information, check out the site here: Monastery of Santa Cecilia.