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Anchor 1 ◀ S. Sebastiano • This is the entrance to the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. You can visit them still today • The room within is part of the remains of the 4th century church and contains many inscriptions. Excavations in 1915 found many 3rd century graffiti which mention Peter and Paul. This is because, at that time, the bodies of Peter and Paul were buried here • While the word 'catacomb' has come to refer to all of the various cemeteries near Rome, it originally only referred to this cemetery. It was known as the 'cemoeterium ad catacumbas' or cemetery at the hollows • These catacombs were always known and were often visited over the centuries. This included saints such as St. Jerome (340-420 ca.), St. Brigid of Sweden (1303-1373 ca.), and St. Philip Neri (1515-1595). ▼

Anchor 1 Monument to Queen Christina of Sweden Artist: Jean Baptiste Theodon Date: 1702 ca. • The relief recalls Queen Christina (1626-1689) coming into the Catholic faith on November 3, 1655 in Innsbruck, Austria ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Patrizi Chapel Artist: Giuseppe Puglia Date: 1635 • The altarpiece is Virgin Appears in a Dream to Giovanni and his Wife • Note that Mary is indicating in the direction of the miraculous snow. The story connected with this painting is noted on the Patrizi monument on the floor

Anchor 1 ▶ ◀ Tomb of Umberto I ▼

Beggar's Rome

Anchor 1 Chiesa del Gesu Original church of S. Maria della Strada: Current baroque church: 1584 • When St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) brought the Society of Jesus, often called the Jesuits, to Rome in 1537 he was given S. Maria della Strada which was located here. When they needed a larger space, they demolished the old church and then built the Gesu. St. Ignatius lived in the rooms to the right of the Gesu from 1544-1556. These rooms can still be visited today. • The new church first had a foundation stone laid around 1550 before delays. A second time, now with plans by Michelango, a foundation stone was laid in 1554 before delays. The third plan under Vignola, followed by Giovanni Tristano and then Giovanni De Rosis, was successful. Facade Artist: Giacomo Della Porta Date: 1571-1575 • The statues are St. Ignatius (left) and St. Francis Xavier (right) who have relics within. The IHS is the Latin monogram"Iesus Hominum Salvator" which means Jesus Savior of Humanity. • The benefactor was Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589). The Farnese coat of arms is at the top of the facade. The text reads: "Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, Vice-Chancellor, erected 1575." • This facade indicates the transition from the Renaissance to the baroque. It was often imitated throughout Europe. ▶

Anchor 1 ▶ ◀ Sacred Heart Chapel • This chapel was originally dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption in 1548 by duke Visconti di Modrone of Milan. A later benefactor Vincenzo Maccarni rededicated the chapel to the Resurrection. It was then dedicated to Mary Magdalene before its current dedication to the Sacred Heart • The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was promoted by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) who was a French Visitation nun who had visions of Mary and Jesus who encouraged her to make know the wonders of Jesus' love for humanity ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Tomb of Gregory XVI

Anchor 1 ▼ Confession • The statue is St. John the Baptist

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Conversion of St. Paul Altar Artist: Vincenzo Camuccini Date: 1800s • The altarpiece is Conversion of St. Paul

Anchor 1 ▼ Corsini Chapel • The four pendentives have the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Cupola Artist: Baciccia Date: 1672-1675 • The cupola is Vision of Heaven. This was Baciccia's first work in the church • The statues in the niches are Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, and Temperance ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Gregorian Room • Almost all of the original apse mosaic of 1220, in the main church, has been removed due to the 1747 renovation and later fire. Parts of the original work can be found in this room ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Tomb of Guillaume Durand Artist: Giovanni di Cosma Date: 1296 ca. • The tomb is Funeral Monument of Guillaume Durand • Guillaume Durand (d. 1296) was a Dominican and bishop of Mende • The mosaic has at center Mary and child Jesus. On the left is St. Privatus who was one of the first bishops of Mende. St. Privatus presents Durand to Mary. On the right is St. Dominic • Below the tomb is Bust of Onofrio Camaiani of Arezzo (1574 ca.)

Anchor 1 ▼ Nave Artist: Alessandro Algardi (design) Date: 1650 • The relief in the center is Jonah and the whale. This story can be found in the Bible at Jonah 1:1-4:11 • The prophet in the upper center is Micah ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ Chapel of St. Francis Xavier

Anchor 1 ▼ Borghese Chapel Artist: Stefano Maderno Date: 1612 • The relief is Pope Liberius marking off the outline of this church in the miraculous snow ▲

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ Albani Chapel

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Lancelotti Chapel

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Vault Artist: Unknown Date: 1800s • The decorations in the vault are from the 19th century renovation