Rome

• 

Abbazia delle Tre Fontane

North-east of the centre of the EUR (and accessible on buses 671, 707, 716, 761 or 767) there lies a haven of ancient, eucalyptus-scented green, with three churches that commemorate the points where St Paul's head supposedly bounced after it was severed from his body in AD 67. (Being a citizen of Rome, Paul was eligible for the relatively quick and painless head-chop, as opposed to the considerably less appealing prospect of a long, drawn-out crucifixion.) These are the grounds of the Trappist monastery of Tre Fontane, where water has gurgled and birds have sung since the fifth century. The church of San Paolo delle Tre Fontane is said to be built on the spot where the apostle was executed; apart from a column to which Paul is supposed to have been tied, all traces of the fifth-century church were done away with in 1599 by architect Giacomo della Porta, who was also responsible for the two other churches. Monks planted the eucalyptus trees here in the 1860s, believing they would drive away the malarial mosquitoes; a liqueur is now brewed from the trees and sold in a little shop (no credit cards accepted) along with chocolate and various other remedies for all ills.

• Did you find this useful? Yes No
• 

      

---