Beneath a 19th-century reconstruction lies the potential burial site of the Apostle Paul
In short: While the current Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls was completed in 1840 following a devastating fire, it stands on one of Rome's most ancient sacred sites. Beneath its high altar, a marble sarcophagus may hold the remains of the Apostle, sparking centuries of tradition and modern scientific investigation.
The site's history stretches back to the 4th century, when Emperor Constantine the Great founded the first basilica over what was believed to be the burial place of Paul of Tarsus. By 386, Emperor Theodosius I expanded the structure into a massive monument that, for a time, exceeded the size of Old Saint Peter's. This original orientation was later reversed during the expansion, shifting the entrance from the east to the west, toward the Tiber River.
The basilica's character remained largely intact for over 1,400 years until a catastrophic fire in 1823, caused by a workman repairing the roof's copper gutters. The subsequent reconstruction, led by architects Pasquale Belli and Luigi Poletti, aimed to replicate the 4th-century original while incorporating salvaged elements. Despite these efforts, the modern building is a distinct interpretation, featuring 80 columns and a ceiling from the 19th century, though it retains the 5th-century mosaics of the triumphal arch.
Modern interest in the site intensified in 2006, when Vatican archaeologists confirmed the presence of a white marble sarcophagus located 1.37 meters below the altar. Radiocarbon dating of bone fragments found within suggested an origin in the 1st or 2nd century. While these findings align with the traditional timeline of the Apostle's life, experts like Ulderico Santamaria caution that such data cannot definitively prove the relics belong to Saint Paul, leaving the mystery of the tomb a subject of ongoing scholarly debate.
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