Mausoleum of Sant’Urbano

The Mausoleum of Sant’Urbano is located on a side street that departs from the via Appia Antica at the fourth mile, and is about twenty minutes' walk from the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella.

The monumental brick sepulcher, dating back to the 4th century AD, is characterized by imposing walls over ten meters high; There are also an apse, side niches and remains of the front access staircase.

The monument, which was studied at the end of the 19th century by the archaeologist Rodolfo Lanciani, owes its name to an episode cited by Christian sources, according to which the body of the saint was transported by the matron Marmenia to a building in one of her properties along the via Appia. As a result of this, the villa located behind the tomb was called domus Marmeniae and the mausoleum attributed to Sant’Urbano.

Photo: Courtesy of Beni Culturali site