Santa Cecilia in Trastevere: Maderno's statue and Cavallini's fresco

Updated on October 5, 2026

The Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere hides at the end of a flowery courtyard on Piazza di Santa Cecilia, in the quietest part of the district. It holds two masterpieces: the statue of Saint Cecilia carved by Stefano Maderno in 1600, beneath the altar, and Pietro Cavallini's Last Judgment, a fresco of about 1293 seen from the nuns' choir during limited hours. The neighbouring Benedictine monastery is still inhabited. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour to see the fresco and the excavations. The basilica is a good complement to Santa Maria in Trastevere, a 15-minute walk away.

Highlights

The statue of Saint Cecilia

Beneath the altar, Stefano Maderno showed in 1600 the martyr's body lying on its side, face turned to the ground, with the sword wounds visible on the neck. He said he reproduced the state of the body when the coffin was opened in 1599. The white marble stands out against a dark background.

Cavallini's Last Judgment

Around 1293, Pietro Cavallini painted Christ in glory surrounded by angels and the apostles on the wall of the nuns' choir. The fresco, hidden by a ceiling added later, was rediscovered in 1900. It is one of the few large Roman cycles of the late 13th century to survive.

The courtyard and façade

The church is reached through a walled garden and a portico; the Romanesque bell tower can be seen from the square. According to tradition, the basilica stands on the saint's house; she is the patron saint of musicians.

The excavations

Beneath the church, remains of Roman houses, with mosaic floors and bath structures, can be visited for an extra fee. The apse keeps a 9th-century mosaic.

Opening hours and prices

According to Rome's tourist office, the basilica is open on working days (Monday to Saturday) from 10am to 12:30pm and from 4pm to 6pm, and on holidays from 11:30am to 12:30pm and from 4pm to 6pm. Cavallini's fresco can be seen on working days from 10:30am to 12:30pm and on holidays from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Italian "working days" (feriali) normally include Saturday, which the tourist office site does not specify. The basilica is free to enter; the fresco and the excavations are paid separately (about €2.50 each according to secondary sources; the monastery does not publish the price).

Practical info

Tips

Hours vary with services and are not always kept: check on the spot or with the monastery (06 45492739). Photos are not allowed in front of the fresco. The fresco is seen in small groups and the nuns' choir is not always open, so do not plan the afternoon for it. Clothing covering shoulders and knees is required.

How to get there

Piazza di Santa Cecilia 22, 00153 Rome, in the east of Trastevere near the Tiber. No metro: tram 8 to the Belli stop and a 10-minute walk, or from Circo Massimo (metro B) 20 minutes on foot via Ponte Palatino and Via dei Genovesi.