Ss. Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense, Minor basilica in EUR district, Rome, Italy
Ss. Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense is a minor basilica in the EUR district featuring a Greek cross layout with a central cubic structure topped by a hemispherical dome 32 meters in diameter. It stands at the highest point of the neighborhood and contains a pipe organ built in 1960 and later expanded in 1990.
Construction started in 1939 but halted during World War II when the site became a battleground between Italian soldiers and German paratroopers in 1943. This interruption marked a significant chapter in the building's long path to completion.
Monumental statues of Saints Peter and Paul stand on either side of the main staircase, greeting visitors as they approach from Europa Avenue. Their placement at this prominent location reflects their special veneration as Rome's patron saints.
The location sits at an elevated point in the EUR district, making it easy to spot and reach from the surrounding area. Visitors should be aware that a broad staircase leads to the entrance and the interior is spaciously laid out.
The dome ranks as the fourth largest in Rome, following only the Pantheon, Saint Peter's Basilica, and San Giovanni Bosco. This ranking places it among a select group of Rome's most impressive architectural achievements.
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