Sacello di San Zenone, Ninth-century chapel in Basilica of Santa Prassede, Rome, Italy.
The Sacello di San Zenone is a small chapel within the Basilica of Santa Prassede completely covered with glowing mosaics. Walls and ceilings display golden backgrounds filled with religious figures that surround the entire space.
A pope commissioned this chapel in the 9th century as a burial place for his mother. The structure was integrated into the larger basilica and has preserved its original appearance until today.
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 small and tight, so visitors should enter slowly and allow their eyes time to adjust to the light. A coin activates the lighting system and allows you to see the mosaics in full brightness.
The chapel houses a reliquary containing a stone fragment that tradition says came from Jerusalem in medieval times. This precious object is kept in an ornate container and is treated by visitors as especially sacred.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
