Just a short walk from St Mary Major, you’ll find one of the most impressive chapels you will ever see!
It’s the chapel of San Zenone (in the Basilica of Santa Prassede), which was dedicated by Pope Pasquale I to his mother Teodora, in the 9th century.
The entire ceiling and upper section of the walls are covered in precious mosaics. You insert a coin to turn the lights on and your jaw drops. 😮
Each wall of this little chapel depicts different sacred characters: St Peter, St Paul, St Agnes, St Prassede, St Pudenziana..
But here you’ll find also one of the most important relics brought here by Pasquale I: the fragment of the Column of the Flagellation of Christ, which you can reach through this chapel.
Here’s what happens when the lights turn on inside the chapel.
See the video transcript
In this alley in Rome, you will find the most beautiful chapel you probably didn’t know about. This is the Church of Santa Prassede, a medieval church built in the 800s. When inside, look for this little door on the right nave. You will find a tiny little chapel that will leave you speechless. Every inch of these walls is covered with tiny pieces of golden and colorful mosaic. But there’s more. Here you’ll also find the column where Jesus was tied to when he was flagellated.
📍You’ll find it in Via di Santa Prassede, 9/a
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