San Paolo alle Tre Fontane

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San Paolo alle Tre Fontane, in English, St Paul at the Three Fountains Location is a church dedicated to St Paul the Apostle, at the presumed site of his martyrdom in Rome.

[edit] History

Legend claims that when St Paul was decapitated, his head bounced three times and fountains miraculously sprang out when it touched the ground. However the springs were known in pre-Christian times as the Aquae Salviae, and excavations have revealed ancient mosaic pavements. Even if it is not true it does help identify the claimed site of St Paul's martyrdom. It is also said that there was a stone pine tree at the site of his death, and the identification of this place was strengthened when ancient stone-pine cones were found here during excavations in 1857.

The first church here was built in the 5th century. It was rebuilt in 1599 by Giacomo della Porta for Cardinal Peter Aldobrandini. The church belongs to the Trappist abbey of the same name.

There are three symbolic monumental covers to the fountains said to have sprung up at St Paul's death. The fountains were sealed in 1950 because pollution made it dangerous to drink the water.

A column in church is said to be the one to which St Paul was bound when he was beheaded, but this seems to be a late story and it is probably just a column from Roman ruins nearby.

Remains of a late Roman mosaic floor are preserved in the nave. It was donated to the church by Pope Pius IX and is said to have been brought here from Ostia, Rome's port in the imperial period.