San Paolo Fuori le Mura

St Paul's Outside The Walls was rebuilt in the 19th Century, is lovely if somewhat sterile, contains mosaic portraits of all 266 Popes and translucent Alabaster windows.

There are Vatican and non-Vatican Churches in Rome, and St. Paul’s Outside The Walls is a Vatican Church within an sovereign Vatican Enclave, just like Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. You can buy Vatican postage stamps here same as in the Post Office on the Roof of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

The architecture is neo-Classical, that could not be more obvious from this view. So perhaps it is a coincidence that the original structure was built in the Classical Era by Emperor Constantine, and then was replaced in the neo-Classical era following a fire in 1823. If I understand correctly, these are Corinthian Columns.

The Apostle Paul’s remains may have come to rest here following his martyrdom at the hands ofi Emperor Nero. Whereas Nero persecuted Christians, Constantine converted to Christianity and made Christianity the Official Religion of the Roman Empire.

Why does the Statue of Paul hold a Sword? You’ll find the answer in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians 6:17. This may or may not have convinced the Ephesians to abandon their local economy in the sale of Souvenir Statues of Artemis?

Wikipedia says the ceiling is stucco, but Rick Steves says gilded wood. I think the porch ceiling is gilded wood and the nave ceiling is stucco.

The Church is neo-Classical, but the 13th-Century Altar Canopy is Gothic, with for instance Arches that are pointed instead of perfectly round.

Just below the translucent Alabaster Windows is the row of mosaic portraits of all the Popes.

The 5th Century Mosaics are heavily reworked.