Basilica of the Saints XII Apostles
This Roman basilica adjoins Palazzo Colonna and houses masterworks spanning five centuries, from Renaissance tombs to Baroque frescoes and Canova’s monumental sepulcher of Pope Clement XIV.
At a glance
A church of layered artistic ambitions, the basilica presents a fifteenth-century portico concealing Giuseppe Valadier’s neoclassical facade. The interior unfolds with Renaissance reliefs, Baroque illusionism, and neoclassical sculpture—each era leaving its mark on the sacred space.
History
Built over the relics of the apostles Philip and James, the basilica underwent significant changes in the early nineteenth century. Giovanni Torlonia, then duke, commissioned completion of the facade in 1827, commemorating his intervention in an inscription on the upper floor. The vast crypt beneath the high altar was constructed by Luigi Carimini between 1869 and 1871, consolidating the remains of the titular apostles with relics of other martyrs uncovered during excavation.
What you see
The facade merges periods: Valadier’s restrained neoclassicism rises above a Renaissance portico, with a large window framed by Torlonia’s commemorative plaque. Inside, the narthex displays Antonio Canova’s funerary stele for engraver Giovanni Volpato alongside other tombstones. The interior architecture balances solemn severity with ornamental richness, its vault crowned by Baciccio’s 1707 fresco depicting the Triumph of the Franciscan Order. Giovanni Odazzi’s Fall of the Rebel Angels commands the presbytery with illusionistic force. The sacristy ceiling bears tempera work by Sebastiano Ricci. Below ground, the crypt’s ambulatory decorations echo early Christian catacombs.
Cultural significance
The basilica represents a rare convergence of Renaissance, Baroque, and neoclassical sensibilities within a single sacred monument. It preserves major works by canonical Italian masters—Antoniazzo Romano, Benedetto Luti, and Giuseppe Cades among painters; Canova and Luigi Capponi among sculptors. Notable burials include cardinals Bessarione, Brancati, and Casaroli, as well as composer Girolamo Frescobaldi, reflecting the church’s standing in Roman intellectual and ecclesiastical circles.
Key facts
- Address: Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, Roma
- Coordinates: 41.89802472084713, 12.48323142528534
- Phone: 3334571245
- Crypt constructed: 1869–1871
Practical information
Opening hours are not listed; check the official website or contact the basilica directly. The church remains active for worship and is typically open to visitors during daylight hours.
Getting there
The basilica stands in Piazza dei Santi Apostoli in central Roma, adjacent to Palazzo Colonna. Public transport connections serve the historic center; consult local transit maps for nearest stops.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
Historical events at this place (1)
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