Photo credits: @Ruber51 on TripAdvisor
Located in Rome, more precisely in via S.Pancrazio on the Janiculum, Basilica di San Pancrazio, known in English as St. Pancras Basilica, is a Catholic Church created in ancient Rome by Pope Symmachus in the VII century. This Church is surrounded by Villa Doria Pamphilj, one of the most beautiful parks in Rome, making it possible for you to enjoy an exploration day to its fullest!
Let’s find out something more about Basilica di San Pancrazio in Rome and why it’s worth a visit!
The Origins of Basilica di San Pancrazio
As previously mentioned, the Basilica of San Pancrazio was wanted by Pope Symmachus and erected on the same site where Saint Pancras of Rome, a martyr also known as Pancratius, was buried. The story of this Church goes a long way back in time though… This minor basilica was in fact at first controlled by the clergy of the Church of S. Crisogono and it was later on given to the Benedictine Order in 580. The Church was then given to Pope Honorius I, who chose to enlarge it to house more pilgrims. He managed to have the main altar of this Church placed over the Catacomb of San Pancrazio. This basilica was then taken under the care of the Discalced Carmelites in the XVII century. They chose to remodel it completely and, throughout the following centuries it underwent a lot of restoration, after Garibaldi’s attack over Rome, and reconstruction work. The only element that is still faithful to the old construction of this church is its brick façade created in the XV century.
The Martyr’s history: who was St. Pancrazio of Rome?
The San Pancrazio Basilica was obviously built in honor of St. Pancrazio, a young IV-century martyr. Pancras used to be a Roman citizen who chose to convert to Christianity, something that led to his death at age fourteen. There are many myths and legends surrounding this Saint and, unfortunately, nothing comes from reliable sources. The only thing we know for sure is that he was deeply venerated back in the day. Legend says that his body was buried by a woman named Octavilla and, because of this, the Catacomb of St. Pancrazio is often referred to as “Catacombe di Ottavilla”.
Basilica of Saint Pancrazio nowadays
Nowadays, even though this basilica still remains one of the best sites to visit for tourists, Basilica di San Pancrazio is no longer a popular destination for pilgrims.
After closing the catacombs for quite some time due to roof damage, everything was reopened recently, making it possible for you to get the full experience of this majestic Church.
Conclusion
Visiting Basilica di San Pancrazio is definitely a must if you’re interested in getting to know more about the history of early Christianity in Rome. If you want to further explore the city of Rome, we highly suggest you take a look at our blogs and book a private tour with us!
