Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

The Basilica of St. Crux in Jerusalem is one of the "Seven Churches" of Rome (pilgrimage destinations during the Jubilee). The Church is on the Aurelian Walls and was obtained from Sessoriano Palace, dating back to the third century, last home of the Roman Emperors. During the Renaissance and the Baroque modifications they were made that completely destroyed the original appearance of the Church. Currently, some of the frescoes of the old building are preserved in the Museum. Attached to the monastery, in 1476, it was rebuilt the Oratory of St. Mary del Buonaiuto. The Church contains some relics traditionally linked to the Crucifixion of Jesus, preserved in the "Shrine of the Cross", obtained from the ancient sacristy. Inside is the St. Helena's Chapel, where the floor had to be covered with soil from the Holy Land (hence the name "In Jerusalem"). 1485 is the mosaic by Melozzo da Forli decorating the Chapel, depicting Jesus blessing surrounded by the Evangelists. The frescoes in the apse, as well as at the same Melozzo, are attributed to Antoniazzo Romano and Marco Palmezzano. Also worth mentioning is the presence of the tomb of Francisco Quinones, by Jacopo Sansovino (1536). In the urn basalt altar is preserved the body of the Saints and martyrs Cesario and Anastasio. The eighteenth century restructuring led to a total renovation of the interior, which was decorated in the time of three large paintings by Corrado Giaquinto (1743). Another treasure is the mosaic icon of the fourteenth century, preserved in the Museum. In the amphitheater Castrense, relevance of the Basilica and its convent, was recreated in 2004 the vegetable garden of the monastery, designed by the architect Paul Pejrone, accessible to naturalistic and archaeological guided tours.