Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Yesterday's excursion by local buses took us to Ostiense to see some beautiful mosaics.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is one of Rome's four ancient, papal, major basilicas.

The Holy See owns the Basilica. It is a little part of the Vatican territory   located about half an hour on the bus from St Peter's.

The basilica was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I over the burial place of Saint Paul, where it was said that, after the Apostle's execution, his followers erected a memorial,

In 386, Emperor Theodosius I began erecting a much larger and more beautiful basilica.

Last year we swooned over the mosaics that we saw in Ravenna of a similar period, and though this church has been modified and restored over the centuries, the beauty of these mosaics persists.

I had to lift this image (above) from the web, because there is scaffolding all around the front due to restoration works. 

I could take these photos of the facade (below), through the gaps in the fence.

Once inside, it was a sight to behold. It is a basilica, so it is huge. On both sides of the arch there are beautiful decorations

Below, the apse mosaic (1220). Christ flanked by the Apostles Peter, Paul, and Andrew and Saint Luke

The nave's 80 columns and its wood and stucco-decorated ceiling are from the 19th century.

There is a row of papal friezes above the 80 columns in the nave. However, there are a finite number of spaces. There are only six spaces left, which according to some may portend the end times.

According to a local legend the pope whose face graces that last space in the row will in fact be the final pope as the Second Coming begins.