St. Paul's Within the Walls Church (Chiesa di San Paolo Entro le Mura)
Via Nazionale 16A, Rome, Italy, 00184
St. Paul’s Within the Walls Church (Chiesa di San Paolo Entro le Mura) was the first Protestant church built in Rome, considered the capital of the Catholic world. This 19th-century Episcopal church is home to beautiful and relatively modern mosaics that earned it recognition as a national monument. Today, it is not only a religious and cultural center, but also a performance venue that regularly hosts concerts of classical music and opera.
The Basics
Using glass from Murano, pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones designed St. Paul’s Within the Walls’ four mosaics that earned the building its recognition as a national monument from the Italian government. That said, St. Paul’s Within the Walls (Chiesa di San Paolo Entro Le Mura) is primarily known as venue for musical performances. Here you can see productions of famous Italian operas such as Giuseppe Verdi’sLa Traviata and Gioachino Rossini’sBarber of Seville, or performances of famous opera arias by singers from the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma or today’s Three Tenors. There are also frequent classical music concerts featuring works by composers including Beethoven, Schubert, and Vivaldi.
Booking tickets to one of the many concerts and performances held at St. Paul’s Within the Walls is the perfect way to both visit the lovely church interior and appreciate its excellent acoustics. The Three Tenors and the Virtuosi dell'Opera di Roma are two of the most popular performances, but there are also symphonic concerts and special musical events on Easter and New Year’s Eve.
Things to Know Before You Go
St. Paul’s Within the Walls is one of Italy’s most important Protestant churches and holds Episcopal services in English each Sunday.
If attending a musical performance, the dress code is smart casual.
The church is accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The church is located on the corner of Via Nazionale and Via Napoli, about a 10-minute walk from Rome’s Termini train station or near the Piazza Repubblica stop on metro line A.
When to Get There
St. Paul’s Within the Walls is a beautiful backdrop for evening performances, though you can also visit Monday to Friday from 9am to 4:30pm to simply tour the interior.
Art Exhibitions
In addition to concerts and operas, St. Paul’s Within the Walls often holds contemporary art exhibitions, which you can visit during their regular opening hours.
Ways to explore
While some visitors come to St. Paul’s Within the Walls Church just to admire the mosaic work designed by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones, most travelers come to see one of the church’s musical performances. Famous Italian operas fill its weekly schedule, but the church also hosts classical music concerts featuring works by composers including Bach, Schubert, and Vivaldi. Attending concerts and performances is the perfect way to see the lovely church interior and appreciate its excellent acoustics. If you drop by to see the interior, you can easily combine your visit with another nearby notable church: the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Accessibility
The church is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with strollers.
Age limits
All ages are welcome, although concerts may start too late and go too long for young children.
What to pack
Camera, jacket, umbrella
What to wear
If attending a musical performance, the dress code is smart casual.
Not allowed
Avoid making noise or using phones inside or during performances.
Amenities
The church offers prayer services and the Holy Eucharist in multiple languages.
Address
The church is located on the corner of Via Nazionale and Via Napoli, about a 10-minute walk from Rome’s Termini train station. Multiple public transportation options are nearby, and it is accessible by car.
Driving
Drive towards Piazza Repubblica and take the one-way street Via Nazionale to the church. Nearby side streets may offer street parking, but there are also many garages nearby.
Public transportation
Take metro line A to the Piazza Repubblica station or one of the many buses that run to the Nazionale/Torino stop
Best times to visit
Performances at the church take place in the evening. Plan sightseeing visits for the late morning or early afternoon.
Best days to visit
Which performance you want to see will determine which day you should visit; Sundays have no performances, and visits are mostly limited to Holy Eucharist services.
Best months to visit
Rome’s busy tourist season from June to September may increase ticket competition, so visit outside of these months if possible.
Special events
St. Paul’s Within the Walls Church holds a special Christmas concert with festive songs and a New Year’s Concert.
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