Il cd "Titolo di Equizio"

Amazing underground experience and very historic place. A guided tour is suggested.

The main attraction of the church is its underground level, which offers a glimpse into the early Christian era. Here you can see the ruins of ancient buildings and experience the atmosphere of the first Christian gathering places.

One of the most beautiful and comprehensive visitor experiences, although in my opinion still unfairly overlooked by mass tourism. It is an exceptional and extremely important testimony. Once inside the church, richly decorated in the mid-17th century, you walk along the central nave to the staircase leading down to the crypt beneath the altar. From there, passing through a small door on the left, you descend another staircase and finally find yourself inside the so-called Titolo Equizio. This large rectangular brick space, divided into three naves by six pillars, dates back to around the 3rd century and was part of the nearby baths. It was most likely later used for commercial purposes, such as a covered market, or more likely a warehouse, but from the end of the 3rd century to the beginning of the 4th, it began to be used for Christian worship. It was Pope Sylvester himself who founded the Titolo Equizio, renovating this space, adapting it to the needs of the Christian rite and for community meetings in this area of ​​Rome (archaeologists and historians have long debated the reasons for this use). One possible explanation lies in the fact that the building was used precisely because it was located in the center of a neighborhood where pagan Eastern cults, such as Mithraism and the cult of Isis and Serapis, still flourished. These were strongly opposed by the Christians, almost as if they were competitors. This made this place a crucial meeting point for the Christian church, which was also beginning to organize itself "bureaucratically," so as to be able to reach all the Roman communities in a widespread manner (and in fact, the Synods of 499 and 595 were held here). These spaces are still rich in relics and are absolutely worth a visit if you're in the area. The artifacts and testimonies you'll find as soon as you descend the stairs are jaw-dropping. Take a look at the photos and if I've given you a tip then click Helpful.