Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo al Celio

This basilica on the Caelian Hill preserves a picturesque medieval facade with a tall bell tower rising above the remains of ancient structures. Beneath the church lies an extensive complex of Roman houses, the Case Romane del Celio, with rooms decorated in well-preserved painted plaster from the second to fourth centuries. The church honours two Roman soldiers said to have been martyred in a house on the site. Its arcaded portico, ancient columns, and the layered ruins below make it a rewarding stop away from the busier basilicas of the city.