On Rome’s Oppian Hill, the Basilica dei Santi Silvestro e Martino ai Monti joins a 4th-century Christian site to a richly decorated 17th-century interior. Look for the 6th-century mosaic of the Madonna with St Sylvester, ancient columns and the relics beneath the main altar. The visit continues below ground, where rooms and building remains reach back to the 3rd century and faded frescoes survive on the walls. Allow time to explore the different levels as well as the church above.
A church built over an early Christian meeting place
The basilica stands on the Oppian Hill, one of the spurs of the Esquiline. Its origins go back to the 4th century, when the site was associated with a private house belonging to Equitius. Early Christians gathered there, and the church was known as Titulus Equitii. Its first form was an oratory devoted to the martyrs.
The basilica is dedicated to Pope Sylvester I, who lived in the 4th century, and Pope Martin I, a 7th-century pope who was martyred. The site’s underground remains give a view of the earlier buildings beneath the church, including spaces linked to its beginnings.
The basilica above ground
The church’s current appearance largely reflects rebuilding in the 17th century, commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Montalto and carried out primarily by the architect Filippo Gazoni. Its interior has a nave and two aisles, separated by ancient columns. Look closely at the columns: their bases show where additions were made as the floor level changed.
Above, the gilded coffered wooden ceiling is a prominent Baroque detail. Frescoes from the 17th century occupy the upper parts of the central nave walls. A 6th-century mosaic depicting the Madonna with St Sylvester adds an earlier work to the interior. The church also preserves a silver-sheet votive lamp in the sacristy that was believed to be St Sylvester’s tiara.
Relics and the underground levels
Beneath the main altar are relics of Saints Artemius, Paulina and Sisinnius, brought to the basilica from the Catacomb of Priscilla. The underground visit takes you among rooms and remains associated with the earlier buildings on the site. Faded frescoes can still be seen on the walls.
Several levels reveal different phases beneath the church, down toward the original street level. The ancient remains and the altered column bases help show how the building developed over time. If you want more context for what you are seeing, a guide can explain the basilica’s history as you move between the church and its underground spaces.
FAQ
How old is the basilica?
The church was founded in the 4th century on a site associated with early Christian gatherings. Its present appearance largely comes from 17th-century rebuilding.
What can you see underground?
The underground levels contain rooms and remains dating back to the 3rd century, along with faded frescoes.
What are the main things to see inside?
Look for the 6th-century mosaic of the Madonna with St Sylvester, the ancient columns, the gilded wooden ceiling and the relics beneath the main altar.
When is a good time to visit?
Early morning is a good choice for a quieter visit and soft light for photographs.
