Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio alle Tre Fontane

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Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio alle Tre Fontane Sts Vincent and Anastasius at the Three Fountains

Via delle Tre Fontane

One of three churches at the site of St Paul's martyrdom, an abbey church dedicated to St Vincent and St Anastasius. History

The first church here was probably built by Pope Honorius I c. 625, and served by Greek monks.

The present Romanesque church was probably built by Pope Innocent II (1130-1143, and then included in the monastery the Cistercians built at the site in 1221. The monastery and church now belongs to the Trappists. Exterior

Men can ask to see the 13th century monastery of San Bernardo. The cloister is older than the Cistercian settlement, parts of it dating back to the 6th century. It are in fact most likely the earliest preserved cloister. Interior

There is not much decoration, as is customary for Cistercian churches in the Romanesque style. Fragments of frescoes from the 15th century survive, and the windows are the original 12th century ones.

There are seven altars in the church, and among the saints interred in them are the titular saints. It is also said that St Zeno's is interred here, but his remains are known to have been moved from Santa Maria Scala Coeli to Santa Prassede in the 9th century. It is not unlikely that a smaller relic of St Zeno is preserved in one of the altars.