San Paolo alle Tre Fontane

San Paolo alle Tre Fontane - in English, St Paul at the Three Fountains

Location

Church dedicated to St Paul the Apostle, at the site of his martyrdom.

History

Legend claims that when St Paul was decapitated, his head bounced three times and fountains miraculously sprang out when it touched the ground. The legend is nice, but the springs were known in pre-Christian times as the Aquae Salviae, and the excavations revealed ancient mosaic pavements. Still, even if it is not true it help identidy the 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.

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. They had to be sealed up because pollution makes it dangerous to drink the water.

A column in a corner of the church is said to be the one at which St Pauls 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 church. It is said to have been brought here from Ostia, Rome's port in the imperial period.

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