Religious Site
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
buh-SIL-ih-kuh of saint PAWL owt-SIDE the WAWLZ · Modern Rome, Italy · 41.8581° N, 12.4767° E
This basilica stands on the traditional burial site of the Apostle Paul, martyred in Rome under Nero around AD 64-67. First built by Constantine in the 4th century over an earlier funerary monument, greatly enlarged under Theodosius I, the basilica has been venerated as Paul's tomb continuously since antiquity, making it one of the four papal major basilicas of Rome.
Archaeology
A Vatican-sponsored excavation conducted between 2002 and 2006 uncovered an intact white marble sarcophagus directly beneath the high altar, inscribed "Paulo Apostolo Mart" ("to Paul, apostle and martyr"). The sarcophagus has been dated to at least the late 4th century, consistent with Constantine's original shrine. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI announced that a probe inserted into the sarcophagus had detected bone fragments carbon-dated to the 1st or 2nd century — findings consistent with, but not proof of, the traditional identification of the remains as Paul's.
On a modern map
Further reading
More sites
Capstone Bible is a free interactive study app — a map of every place in this library, a zoomable timeline of biblical and church history, the Bible text with every name in it linked to its article, reading plans and personal notes.
Open Capstone Bible