Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 06 4697 4832;
www.museorientale.beniculturali.it
;
Via Merulana 248; adult/reduced €6/3; 9am-2pm Tue,
Wed & Fri, 9am-7.30pm Thu, Sat & Sun; Vittorio Emanuele)
This little-known but impressive collec-
tion is housed in the 19th-century Palazzo Brancaccio. The collection includes 5th-
century-BC Iranian glassware, items from the ancient settlement of Swat in Pakistan,
12th-century homewares from Afghanistan, engraved ritual vessels from China dating to
800 to 900 BC, and Ming porcelain figures.
CHIESA DI SANTA CROCE IN GERUSALEMME
CHURCH
(
www.santacroceroma.it
;
Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 12; 7am-12.45pm & 3.30-7.30pm; Piazza di
Porta Maggiore)
One of Rome's seven pilgrimage churches, the Chiesa di Santa Croce was
founded in 320 by St Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, in the grounds of her
palace. It takes its name from the Christian relics here - including a piece of Christ's cross
and St Thomas' doubting finger - that St Helena brought to Rome from Jerusalem, housed
in a chapel to the left of the altar.
Of particular note are the lovely 15th-century Renaissance apse frescoes representing
the legends of Christ's cross, showing from where the wood came and how it was turned
into the cross.
In 2011, the monks who lived in the adjoining monastery were ousted by Pope Benedict
XVI following accusations of financial mismanagement and lifestyles that were deemed
unsuitable for monks.
CHIESA DI SANTA PUDENZIANA
(
www.stpudenziana.org
; Via Urbana 160; 8.30am-noon & 3-6pm; Cavour)
The church of Rome's
Filipino community contains a sparkling 4th-century apse mosaic, the oldest of its kind in
the city. An enthroned Christ is flanked by two female figures who are crowning St Peter
and St Paul; on either side of them are the apostles dressed as Roman senators. Unfortu-
nately, you can only see 10 of the original 12 apostles, as a barbarous 16th-century facelift
lopped off two and amputated the legs of the others.
CHURCH
CHIESA DI SANTA PRASSEDE
( Via Santa Prassede 9a; 7.30am-noon & 4-6.30pm; Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore)
Famous for its brilli-
ant mosaics, this 9th-century church is dedicated to St Praxedes, an early Christian
heroine who hid Christians fleeing persecution and buried those she couldn't save in a
well. The position of the well is now marked by a marble disc on the floor of the nave.
CHURCH
