Santi Cosma e Damiano Church (Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano) Tours and Activities
Like many of Rome’s earliest Christian churches, the Santi Cosma e Damiano Church (or Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano) was once a pagan temple and incorporates elements of its original Roman architecture. After becoming a church in 527, however, the interior was richly decorated with mosaics considered to be masterpieces of sixth and seventh-century art.
The Basics
This circular church and adjacent monastery are located at the original entrance of the Roman Forum, in what was once the Foro di Vespasiano, and are home to some of Italy's most important early Christian mosaics. Many private tours of the Roman Forum include a stop in the basilica, and devotees of Saint Damian can also join a day excursion from Rome to Assisi and Orvieto to visit the Chiesa di San Damiano as part of a tour of Assisi with a private guide.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Though the church is part of the Forum complex, the entrance is through the monastery outside the Forum, so you do not need tickets to enter.
- Visitors must wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees to enter the church.
- The church and cloister are accessible to wheelchairs; the crypt beneath the church is not.
- Photography (without flash) is allowed inside the church.
How to Get There
The basilica is part of the Roman Forum (Foro Romano) complex, located on Via dei Fori Imperiali near the Colosseum. Take metro line B to the Colosseo stop.
When to Get There
The Roman Forum is usually busy, but this separate area is less visited, meaning you don’t have to expect crowds throughout the day. September 26 is the saint's day dedicated to the church’s saints, Cosmas and Damiano. This makes for a particularly beautiful day to visit the church during the celebratory mass.
Santi Cosma e Damiano History
The basilica is dedicated to the saints Cosmas and Damian, two Syrian brothers who were physicians and, after martyrdom, became the patron saints of doctors and veterinarians. The church was first a fourth-century temple dedicated to Romolo (or Romulus, the deified son of Emperor Maxentius) before becoming the Church of the Saints Cosmas and Damian in 527.
Address: Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 117, Rome, Lazio 00186, Italy
3 Tours and Activities to Experience Santi Cosma e Damiano Church (Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano)
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Medieval Rome: Churches, Towers, Mosaics - Private Walking Tour
The traces of the Middle Ages seem slight in Rome, today dominated by the imposing Ancient Roman remains and by the elegant palaces built in the Renaissance. Yet, if you know where to look, you can find ignored, almost forgotten wonders…
Thanks to our knowledgeable and passionate guide, you will discover some of the 300 towersthat dominated the city center in Medieval times, including the famous and imposing Torre delle Milizie and Torre del Grillo.
You will also visit the Basilica of Saint Cosmas and Damian, with its famous mosaic in byzantine style, and you will end the tour in the marvellous Basilica of Santa Prassede, a little-known jewel that hides a golden treasure!
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From
$72.92
Price varies by group size
From
$72.92
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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Day Excursion from Rome: Assisi and Orvieto with a Theologist Private Tour
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Visit the sacred city of Assisi and the medieval hill town of Orvieto on this full-day private tour from Rome. Learn about the birth of the Franciscan movement as you explore the relics of UNESCO-listed Assisi. After lunch (own expense), continue to charming Orvieto to admire the magnificent Cathedral of Orvieto and hear stories of religious legends, Saints and miracles as you explore its hallowed halls.
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From
$490.33
Price varies by group size
From
$490.33
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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Rome For All - Accessible Guided Tour of Colosseum & Ancient Rome
This tour is for those who want to discover the pillars of the Roman Empire! It is the result of the collaboration with the Mapful App, a new Italian project to map the accessibility of public spaces. The driver will accompany you to the Capitoline Hill, the starting point of this guided tour, with 7 stops in 1500 meters. On its top, Michelangelo designed the actual marvelous Square. If only for the Monumental Square with the Marco Aurelio equestrian statue and the killing views on the Roman Forum, this is one of the must-see spots of Rome. Going down the hill, you will pass by the copy of the she-wolf that nursed Romolo and Remo. You will stop to hear the history of the Empire, while admiring its fascinating ruins. You will visit an unicum, the Saints Cosma and Damiano Basilic. If the Colosseum still needs to be presented, we invite you to read more below.
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From
$292.17
Price varies by group size
From
$292.17
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More
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