The Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina is a wonderful treat, conveniently located in the northern part of the City. This titular church, built over a Roman apartment complex, houses the legendary grill upon which Saint Lawrence was martyred in 258. Though documented as early as the 4th century, the current structure features an 11th-century rebuild and a magnificent 17th-century Baroque interior under a golden coffered ceiling.

San Sisto Vecchio honors Pope Sixtus II, who was martyred in 258 in the same persecution and orders which brought about the death of St. Laurence; Sixtus was the Pope, and Laurence was one of his deacons. He was laid to rest in the catacombs outside of Rome, and translated here to this church sometime in the 500s. To be clear, there is really no question of the veracity of the relics; shortly after his death his resting place was memorialized with a plaque, allowing for ea

On this day we return to San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence), one of seven pilgrimage churches of Rome, which were churches established for incoming pilgrims as "the" seven churches to visit on a pilgrimage. St. Laurence was a deacon of the church, an ally and associate to the pope, and was immensely popular in Rome. We have already visited the place of his martyrdom in the Church of San Lorenzo in Panisperna where the grill on which he was martyred is contained.