San Gregorio Magno al Celio, Baroque church on Caelian Hill, Rome, Italy
San Gregorio Magno al Celio is a Baroque church on the Caelian Hill featuring sixteen ancient columns that divide the interior into a balanced, basilica-like space. The floor displays a Cosmatesque pattern from the 13th century, creating a distinctive geometric design throughout the nave.
Construction occurred between 1629 and 1633 under the direction of Giovanni Battista Soria, commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, replacing the earlier villa of Pope Gregory the Great. This rebuilding transformed a site with over one thousand years of religious importance into a Baroque masterwork.
The three oratories on the left side reflect the original monastic community that once lived here. They show how religious devotion shaped daily life in this place over centuries.
Access to the interior is through an atrium rather than the main facade, and entry requires ringing a bell at the entrance. Visitors should be prepared for limited access times and allow extra time for entry.
Excavations on the grounds uncovered the Aphrodite of Menophantos, a Greco-Roman marble sculpture later acquired by the House of Chigi. This discovery reveals the layered history of the site before its Baroque reconstruction.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
