Located a short distance from Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of Santa Prassede is one of the oldest and most fascinating places of worship in Rome. Its architectural structure presents a peculiarity: the original façade is not directly visible from the street, but is hidden within an entrance courtyard located on Via di San Martino ai Monti. The entrance usually used by visitors is instead a more sober door located on the right side of the building, along Via di Santa Prassede.

The Origins and the "Titulus"
The roots of the church date back to the early centuries of Christianity. As evidenced by a plaque from 491, the titulus Praxedis stood here, linked to the noble family of Senator Pudens. According to tradition, the senator and his daughters, Praxedes and Pudentiana, were among the first converts to Christianity in Rome, suffering martyrdom under Antoninus Pius. It is said that, after her sister's death, Praxedes used the family wealth to build a church to house persecuted Christians.

Paschal I's intervention and the mosaics
Although its origins are early Christian, the basilica's current appearance is due to the radical reconstruction commissioned by Pope Paschal I in 817. Inside, the church reveals extraordinary magnificence:

• The Mosaics: The decorations of the apse and the triumphal arch represent one of the pinnacles of Byzantine art in Rome. Created in the 9th century, they are striking for their vivid colors and the use of gold.
• The Well of Saint Praxedes: At the center of the Cosmatesque floor, a porphyry disk marks the presence of an ancient well where, according to legend, the Saint devoutly collected and guarded the blood of the martyrs.
• Architecture: The internal structure is Enriched by majestic Greek marble columns that underscore the basilica's connection to imperial and Carolingian architecture.