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Santa Cecilia in Trastevere

Name: Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
Rating: 4.7

4.7 ·

Step into the hushed calm of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, tucked away from the neighborhood's busier streets. See Stefano Maderno's haunting marble sculpture of the saint's undecayed body, then peek into the convent chapel for Cavallini's fading Last Judgment fresco.

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Reasons to go

Stefano Maderno's marble sculpture depicts the saint's body exactly as it was reportedly found undecayed when her tomb was opened in the 16th century.
The convent chapel holds a Cavallini fresco of the Last Judgment, viewable only at limited hours for a small fee.
It has been a titular church for cardinals since the 5th century, with the current basilica built under Pope Paschal I in the 9th century.

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Full description

Believed to stand on the site of the home of Saint Cecilia, a Roman martyr and patron saint of musicians, the church holds Stefano Maderno's striking marble sculpture showing her body exactly as it was reportedly found, undecayed, when her tomb was opened in the 16th century. Beyond the main church, a small convent chapel houses a fading but still powerful Cavallini fresco of the Last Judgment, viewable for a small fee at limited hours.

Tucked into the quiet backstreets of Trastevere rather than its busy central piazza, it offers a calmer, more reflective visit than most Rome churches. It suits visitors drawn to lesser-known religious art and quieter corners of the city.

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Address

Piazza di Santa Cecilia, 22, 00153 Roma RM, Italy · Trastevere

Website

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Hours

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Booking

Walk-in

Duration

40 min

Best time

morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening

Intensity

Easy pace

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Good to know

Ask about visiting the upstairs convent chapel to see the Cavallini fresco, which has separate, limited opening hours and a small fee
it's tucked into a quiet Trastevere side street, a nice contrast to the neighborhood's busier piazza
go in the morning when it tends to be least crowded.

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Reviews

It’s a titular church for cardinals since the 5th century but the current baroque building was built in the 9th century. This is dedicated to Cecilia, a peasant who became the patron saint of music. The church is known for the Cavallini frescoes from the 13th century [SEE SEPARATE REVIEW]; the remains and sculpture…

Globetrotter

2/5

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