Early Christian & Medieval Rome

Trace the development of early Christian art in the unique context of Rome, where it evolved from the fugitive imagery of a persecuted cult, into the triumphant representation of imperial piety.

Highlights of our itinerary will include a visit to the excavated Necropolis under St Peter’s Basilica, with its third century mosaic believed to portray Christ as the sun-god Apollo, and Santa Sabina, the oldest surviving Roman basilica in the city. Another memorable visit will be to the Scala Sancta of the Sancta Sanctorum chapel, said to be the steps taken by Jesus Christ on his way to trial by Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, which were subsequently brought to Rome in the fourth century by Saint Helena.

In the fourth century Church of Santa Costanza, originally built as a mausoleum, we will discover some of the most important early Christian art in the world. The splendid mosaics, depicting scenes of grape harvesting and details of birds and foliage, aptly illustrate Constantine’s policy of repurposing old pagan motifs for Christian imagery.

We will examine a succession of popes responsible for some of the unique images of the Virgin Mary to be found in Rome, from Sixtus III, who built the immense Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, to Nicholas IV, who centuries later commissioned Torriti to produce the Coronation of the Virgin mosaic in its apse.

Our investigation will also consider the development of the ‘Roman’ school, characterised by Pietro Cavallini, whose Last Judgment mural in Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is celebrated as his masterwork.

We will stay throughout at the three-star Albergo Santa Chiara, situated in the very heart of Rome, a stone’s throw from the Pantheon.

This tour will be led by Andrew Wilson, BA, BD, FSAScot, a specialist in archaeology and ancient history. Andrew studied archaeology and theology before working overseas as an archaeologist with a particular interest in Roman frontier systems and Byzantine mosaics. He has led many tours for ACE in the Greco-Roman world, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and the Classical Association of Scotland. Andrew is also a member of the Hadrianic Society.

“Scattered among the better known imperial monuments, the thrill of this tour is the opportunity to explore a variety of early churches, allowing us to trace the gradual development of an art form (tied into liturgy and architecture) that gives us so much pleasure in the place where it had its roots, the Roma Caput Mundi.”

— Tour Director Andrew Wilson