Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

photo from the church website

where: Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemmegetting there: bus 649 from Termini or bus 571 from Piazza Venezia, metro linea C/Lodi
open: daily 7:00-12:45 & 15:30-19:30

The Minor Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme is one of the seven pilgrimage churches in Rome.
Found near the Porta Maggiore it is also a short walk from the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.

The church was originally built in the 4th century to house The Relics of the Passion brought back to Rome from Jerusalem by Saint Helena, Constantine's mother. 

The church has been rebuilt and remodeled over the centuries. The Baroque facade and interior that can be seen today was ordered by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741.

The vault ceiling was decorated by Corrado Giaquinto. Dating to 1744 it shows Our Lady Presenting Saint Helena and Constantine to the Trinity.

Other works are attributed to Rubens, Liugi Garzi and Carlo Maratta.

In 1930 the relics in the chapel of Saint Helena were transferred to The Chapel of the Relics.

Here is a fragment of the Cross, two thorns from the Crown of Thorns, a piece of Saint Thomas' doubting finger, two nails used in the Crucifixion, and also a replica of the Shroud of Turin.