Located in the Esquilino quarter of Rome, the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is a significant religious site that has undergone numerous transformations since its establishment. Originally part of an imperial residence built by the Severan Emperors in the third century AD, the complex was later restored by Emperor Constantine and renamed “Sessorium”.
In 324 AD, Constantine’s mother, Empress Helen, converted a portion of the residence into a chapel to house the relics of the Cross found on Mount Calvary. This chapel became the nucleus of the Basilica of the Holy Cross, also known as the Basilica Eleniana or Sessoriana.
Throughout the centuries, the basilica has undergone several restorations and modifications. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory II and Pope Hadrian I restored the basilica, while in the twelfth century, Lucius II transformed it into a three-nave building with a porch and bell tower.
A significant discovery was made during the restorations of Cardinal Mendoza (1478-1495), when the Titulus of the Cross, an inscribed wooden tablet once placed on Jesus Christ’s Cross, was found hidden inside a wall. This relic is still visible inside the Basilica today.
The current appearance of the building dates back to the eighteenth century, when architects Pietro Passalacqua and Domenico Gregorini redesigned the interior and exterior, creating an elliptical atrium and a modern facade made of travertine.
Adjacent to the Basilica is the Chapel of Our Lady of Good Help, built by Pope Sixtus IV in 1476. According to legend, the Pope took shelter from a storm near the Aurelian Walls and was protected by an image of Mary, leading him to construct the chapel in that location.
Today, the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem remains a vital part of Rome’s religious heritage, attracting pilgrims and visitors from around the world.