St Sabina Basilica Wheelchair Accessible Tours

The St Sabina Basilica on the Aventine Hill is perhaps the most beautiful of Rome's early Christian churches that has survived.

It was built by Peter of Illyria, a Dalmatian priest, from 422 to 432, near an ancient Temple of Juno and on the site of the legendary house of the Roman Sabina.

Built in the V century and dedicated to St Sabina, it is the seat of the Curia of the Order of Preachers ( Dominican ).

The building was restored several times, disfigured in the XVI century by the closure of twenty windows.

The restorations of the early XX century have restored its splendor.

The interior is graceful, well proportioned.

Touring St Sabina Basilica

One of its peculiarities is that it does not have a facade, in fact it is incorporated in the atrium and is accessed through a portal preceded by a portico with three arches.

In the atrium are exhibited the finds emerging from the excavations and the very ancient wooden entrance door from the V century which is not used today preserves, among its engravings, that of the Crucifixion of Christ between the two thieves.

This is the oldest representation of the crucifixion never discovered.