Basilica di Santa Maria in Via Lata

Cloaked in mystery, Santa Maria in Via Lata sits above a 5th-century crypt said to be where St. Paul spent two years of house arrest. Other versions contradict this claim, but the crypt and the church erected above it in the ninth century are among the most sacred early Christian sites in Rome. Exploring the church with a guide is the best way to fully appreciate its unique history and religious significance, and pilgrims and art lovers can join a tour of early Christian sites in Rome or an itinerary that traces the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul that include a stop here. View the underground crypt, home to the marble column said to be where St. Paul was chained and replicas of the 17th-century frescoes by Pietro da Cortona (the originals are now conserved in the Crypta Balbi Museum), as well as the church above, completely reworked in the 1600s and decorated with a number of important 17th-century paintings and the 13th-century icon of the Virgin Advocate.