Guided Tour of the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana and excavations

• Guided tour of the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana
• Admire marvelous mosaic dating back to the 5th century
• Skip the line and don't waste your time

Pudentiana and her sister Praxeda were the daughters of the Roman senator Pudens, who hosted St. Peter at his home for seven years.
The church, which for centuries was regarded as the oldest place of Christian worship in Rome, was actually built on the site of an ancient second-century villa two centuries later, It was transformed into a three-nave church, later seriously modified in the 16th century. The Romanesque bell tower dates back to the 13th century.
The interior was redesigned in 1588 by Francesco da Volterra into a single-nave space, but he left the marble columns that once served to distinguish the aisles. The most important monument is one of the oldest Christian mosaics in Rome - a 5th century mosaic in the apse - Christ with an open book in his hand, seated on a throne surrounded by the apostles and with two female figures, symbolizing the Church derived from Jews and pagans, crowning Peter and Paul. In the sky - symbols of the evangelists, and below them the cross and buildings of Jerusalem.

The Oratorio Mariano features frescoes of rare beauty dating back to the 11th century depicting the Virgin and Child seated on a throne with St. Pudentiana and St. Praxeda at their sides. Other walls feature portraits of other saints.

Reduced ticket

• Minors between the ages of 6 and 17
• Groups made up of students belonging to schools and institutes, first and second grade (aged between 6 and 17 years)
• Students of archeology, architecture, art history and cultural heritage up to the age of 25, who present themselves with adequate certification
• Priests, men and women religious, seminarians and novices, who present themselves with adequate certification

Free ticket

• Children under 6 years old (It is still required to pay the reservation fee to skip the line; valid identity document needed at the entrance)

• The maximum size of the group is 10 people
• Safety sanitized protective helmets (construction site model) and disposable hair caps will be provided
• Access for children and teenagers (0 -17 years) only if accompanied
• It is possible to take pictures