Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem

The Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, a jewel of history and faith, rises on the remains of the ancient imperial villa Horti Variani ad Spem Veterem, commissioned by Septimius Severus.

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Originally known as Sancta Hierusalem, the Basilica took the name Heleniana in 433, when Saint Helena had a chapel erected there to house the relics of the True Cross, which she brought back from Jerusalem.

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Over the centuries, the Basilica underwent several transformations: modifications in the 8th century and a radical restructuring in the 12th century, under the pontificate of Lucius II. In 1743, by the will of Benedict XIV, the Basilica was completely renovated, assuming the appearance we admire today.

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The monumental entrance, with three wide arches, leads to an elliptical atrium. Inside, the presbytery houses an 18th-century ciborium and the urn with the bodies of Saints Caesarius and Anastasius.

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In the underground area, the evocative Chapel of Saint Helena preserves the soil from Calvary, brought by Saint Helena. After having housed the Holy Relics of the Crucifixion for over 16 centuries, the chapel passed the baton in 1930 to the new Chapel of the Relics, to allow for better exhibition and veneration of the sacred treasures.

 

The Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, a bridge between Rome and the Holy Land, where the history of salvation intertwines with millenary devotion, offering the faithful an experience of profound spirituality and a tangible contact with the Passion of Christ.