Sacello di San Zenone, Ninth-century chapel in Basilica of Santa Prassede, Rome, Italy.
The Sacello di San Zenone is a small chapel set within the Basilica of Santa Prassede in Rome, with every wall and ceiling surface covered in mosaics. The golden backgrounds and religious figures wrap around the entire interior without a single bare surface.
Pope Paschal I had the chapel built in the early 9th century as a burial place for his mother. It was set into the existing basilica and has kept most of its original decoration since then.
The mosaics display Byzantine craftsmanship with tiny stones forming images of Christ, angels, and female saints in formal arrangements. Visitors can see how this ancient technique created religious scenes that filled every surface.
The space is very small, so it helps to enter slowly and give your eyes time to adjust to the light inside. A coin activates the lighting system, which lets you see the mosaics at their brightest.
The chapel holds a reliquary said to contain a stone brought from Jerusalem during the Middle Ages. The container itself is ornately crafted and draws as much attention from visitors as the mosaics around it.
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