Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

The Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem) is one of the seven pilgrimage churches in Rome. This site has a unique status: part of the soil on which it stands was brought from Jerusalem, making it a spiritual "piece" of the Holy Land in Rome. The main reason to visit is the Chapel of Relics (Cappella delle Reliquie). It houses artifacts brought by Saint Helena (mother of Emperor Constantine) from Jerusalem in the 4th century: Three fragments of the True Cross, on which Christ was crucified; the INRI (India) titlo (a fragment of a tablet bearing the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"); one of the Holy Nails; two thorns from the Crown of Thorns; the finger of Saint Thomas (the "unbeliever"); a fragment of the Cross of the Good Thief. According to legend, Saint Helena ordered a layer of earth from Mount Golgotha ​​to be poured under the chapel's foundation, so that the church would literally stand on Jerusalem soil. The church acquired its current late Baroque appearance in the 18th century. It is adorned with statues of the Evangelists and Saint Helena with a cross. A full-size, highly accurate replica of the Shroud of Turin is on display in a separate room, where visitors can examine it in detail.

The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is located at Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme at the northeast end of Giardini di via Carlo Felice. This is one of the seven major pilgrimage churches in Rome, making it particularly interesting to visit this year during Jubilee. Opening hours are 7.30am to 7pm daily. The basilica dates back to the 4th-century and includes relics brought back to Rome from the Holy Land by Emperor Constantine's mother, Helena. The basilica takes its name 'in Jerusalem' because of the soil that was brought from Jerusalem that once covered its floor. Important relics inside include fragments of the crucifixion, thorns from Crown of Thorns and a copy of the Holy Shroud. The church facade is Baroque the result of 18th-century works and includes a couple of 4th-century pillars. The nave is less ornate compared to other Baroque churches scattered around the city, the main altar includes a nice baldachin and apse mosaics. A lower level Chapel of St. Helena contains nice sculpture and ceiling frescos as well. On the whole, this is a nice church to visit while sightseeing around Rome. It is somewhat isolated but can be combined with a visit to Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Scala which are just a few hundred metres away at the southwest end of Giardini di via Carlo Felice.

A visit to another important, but out of the way church, Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. The Basilica was built in 325 AD by the Emperor Constantine's mother, Helena. It houses significant relics, including a piece of the true cross, thorns from the crown of thorns, the Titulus Crucis (inscription from the cross), and a holy nail. There is also soil from Jerusalem in the floor.

It is a famous basilica in Rome, not in Jerusalem itself; it is famous for housing valuable Christian relics brought from Jerusalem by Saint Helena, including fragments of the True Cross, a nail, and thorns from the Crown of Thorns. The church was built on the site of the palace where the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great resided.

11.11.25. 11:09am. Visited 1 of 7 Basilicas in Rome. According to Christian tradition, the basilica was consecrated circa 325 to house the relics of the Passion of Jesus Christ brought to Rome from the Holy Land by Empress Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine I. The basilica's floor was supposed to be covered with a handfull of soil from Jerusalem,[1] thus acquiring the title in Hierusalem; it is not dedicated to the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, but is considered in a sense to be in Jerusalem (much in the way that an embassy is considered extraterritorial). Between 1561 and 2011 it was the conventual church of an adjacent and now dissolved abbey of Cistercian monks whose aesthetic simplicity greatly influenced the basilica's interior. The church is now run directly by the Diocese of Rome. The current cardinal priest of the church is Juan José Omella.

A short walk from the Lateran, this 4th-century basilica is one of Rome’s seven major pilgrimage churches. It was founded by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, to preserve the relics of Christ’s Passion brought from Jerusalem. The interior combines devotion and baroque elegance, with marble floors, ornate ceilings, and vivid frescoes. The Chapel of the Relics displays fragments of the True Cross, a nail from the Crucifixion, and a thorn from Christ’s crown. Visitors can also enjoy the quiet monastic garden nearby, perfect for reflection after exploring this sacred and historic site.

Interesting place to visit. They have on display thorns from the crown, a nail, pieces of wood from the cross, all used in Jesuses crucifixion. If you are a religious person then this church should be on your list when visiting Rome.

May 2025. Visited as part of the Seven Churches Pilgrimage. Nice church with a small museum. It was quite dark when we got there but was bright after we returned from the museum. I don't recall seeing "pay-to-illuminate" machines

This is a fascinating, must see, Basilica we visited in July 2011. It's off the beaten path and tourist-free which was a nice change of pace for us! It is is part of the route of the "Seven Churches" that pilgrims visit. Most fascinating for me is it contains relics of the Passion! Seeing the relics was truly awe inspiring! We made it to the Basilica right before close and did not have much time to visit; however we still made the most of it. You're not supposed to take photos. The relics are located in the Chapel accessible by a corridor symbolizing the ascent to Calvary. We passed the Stations of the Cross (in bronze) on the walls of the corridor. The Holy Relics are preserved in gilded reliquaries and protected by a glass case. Tradition says that St. Helen, mother of Constantine I, brought to Rome, after her pilgrimage to Jerusalem (Golgotha), the fragments of the True Cross and one of the nails used in the Crucifixion. Later were added the fragments of the Grotto of the Nativity and the Holy Sepulcher (tomb) , the joint of the finger of St. Thomas, a part of the cross of the Good Thief and two thorns from Jesus' Crown. The same display case contains the preserved wooden tablet of the Cross, on which is written (right to left) in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." There is a life sized replica of the Shroud of Turin that is beautifully displayed, too. The Basilica itself is stunningly beautiful inside (think 18th century Baroque). The Venerable Antonietta Meo is interred here and there is a small room with her more than one hundred extraordinary letters to Jesus and the Virgin Mary.