Archaeological Area of the Sessoriano Palace
The Archaeological Area of the Sessoriano Palace preserves the ruins of a vast late Roman imperial complex on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, at coordinates 41.8889° N, 12.5163° E. The Sessorian Palace — Palatium Sessorianum — was built in the late third or early fourth century AD, most likely by the Emperor Septimius Severus or his successors, and subsequently became the Roman residence of the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine I. The complex gave its name to the adjacent basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which was created within one of its great halls, and to the surrounding Sessorian park.
At a glance
- Type
- Roman imperial palace archaeological area
- Period
- Late 3rd – early 4th century AD; associated with Empress Helena (c. 250–330 AD)
- Style
- Roman imperial architecture (late antique)
- Location
- Via Castrense / Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome (Esquiline Hill), Italy
- Coordinates
- 41.8889° N, 12.5163° E
Overview
The Sessorian Palace occupied a substantial portion of the southeastern Esquiline Hill within the Aurelian Walls, forming one of several imperial residences in late antique Rome. The complex included gardens, audience halls, nymphaea, and residential quarters arranged around the characteristically monumental spatial sequences of late Roman palatial architecture. Its most celebrated surviving element — the basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme — was created when the Empress Helena converted one of the great aula regia halls into a Christian oratory, reportedly housing relics of the True Cross brought from Jerusalem. The site lies adjacent to the Aurelian Walls and the Castrense Amphitheatre, forming a dense archaeological zone of late imperial Rome.
History
The palace complex was constructed in the Severan period (193–235 AD) and expanded under Constantine I (306–337 AD), whose mother Helena established her principal Roman residence here in the early fourth century. Ancient sources record that Helena was responsible for the conversion of the hall into a Christian basilica and for bringing soil from Jerusalem to create a sacred connection with the Holy Land — giving the complex its association with the True Cross. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire the palace fell into disuse, though the basilica and the surrounding district retained religious significance through the medieval period and beyond. Archaeological excavations beneath and around the basilica have exposed mosaic pavements, decorative stucco, and structural remains of the original palace complex.
What you see
The visible remains of the Sessoriano Palace are concentrated in the area immediately around and beneath the basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which itself incorporates late-antique masonry in its lower courses. Archaeological investigations have revealed mosaic floors of the Constantinian period, remnants of concrete vaulting, and traces of the original palace layout. The adjacent Castrense Amphitheatre — partially embedded in the Aurelian Walls — is a striking above-ground survival of the imperial complex. The area is also bounded by the medieval Muro Torto section of the Aurelian Walls, offering a remarkable density of archaeological strata spanning three centuries of imperial Rome.
Cultural significance
The Sessoriano Palace is a key site for understanding the transformation of Rome from pagan imperial capital to Christian city in the fourth century AD, a process intimately linked to the figure of Helena and the Constantinian dynasty. Its integration with Santa Croce in Gerusalemme — one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome — gives the site an ongoing religious significance alongside its archaeological interest. The juxtaposition of imperial palace, Christian basilica, Roman amphitheatre, and Aurelian Walls makes this one of the most layered and historically resonant corners of the ancient city.
Practical information
- Address
- Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, 00185 Roma RM
- Access
- The basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme is open to visitors; access to the archaeological area may require prior arrangement — check with the Parrocchia di Santa Croce or local archaeological authorities
- Hours
- Check official website for current opening times
- Nearby
- Castrense Amphitheatre; Aurelian Walls; Museo Nazionale Romano
Getting there
The site is reachable by Metro Line A (San Giovanni station, approximately 10 minutes’ walk) or Metro Line C (Lodi station). Tram line 3 stops at Porta Maggiore, adjacent to the Aurelian Walls and a short walk from Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. By car, the area is within the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) boundary; public parking is available near Porta Maggiore. From Roma Termini station the walk is approximately 20 minutes via Via Carlo Felice.