A basilica with treasures from three eras

The Basilica di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere gathers masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the Baroque, all wrapped in a hush of quiet. Here's what you can't miss on your visit.

Maderno's statue of St Cecilia

Beneath the high altar sits the basilica's most famous masterpiece: the statue of St Cecilia, carved by Stefano Maderno in 1600. The saint lies on her side, in the very pose in which — according to the sculptor's own account — her body was found during the 1599 inspection of her tomb. The hidden face, the delicate drapery and the abandoned posture make the work deeply moving and astonishingly lifelike. We've devoted a separate guide to it: Maderno's statue of St Cecilia.

Arnolfo di Cambio's ciborium

Above the altar rises the magnificent Gothic ciborium (baldachin) by Arnolfo di Cambio (1293), one of the artist's earliest masterpieces: a finely carved marble canopy with columns, arches and statues, among the most beautiful in Rome. It's a rare flash of Gothic in the city of the Baroque.

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Cavallini's Last Judgment

The basilica's "hidden" treasure is the Last Judgment by Pietro Cavallini (late 13th century), frescoed in the nuns' choir on the upper floor. It's one of the supreme masterpieces of medieval Roman painting: the row of seated apostles and the angels with iridescent wings show a striking attention to light and volume, anticipating Giotto by just a few years. It's seen through a separate entrance with limited hours, and it's absolutely worth planning ahead to catch it.

The crypt and the Roman house

Descending into the crypt, richly decorated in a Byzantine-inspired style, you reach the excavations of the Roman house on which the basilica stands: by tradition, the home of St Cecilia, with its rooms, mosaics and ancient remains. It's a journey into the origins of the saint's cult.

How to plan your visit

In 30–45 minutes you'll see the best of it:

  1. Maderno's statue and Arnolfo's ciborium (in the basilica)
  2. Cavallini's Last Judgment (nuns' choir, if open)
  3. The crypt and the excavations of the Roman house
  4. The serene garden courtyard at the entrance

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see at Santa Cecilia in Trastevere? Maderno's statue of St Cecilia (beneath the altar), Arnolfo di Cambio's Gothic ciborium, Cavallini's Last Judgment (nuns' choir) and the crypt with the Roman house.

What is Cavallini's Last Judgment? A late-13th-century fresco by Pietro Cavallini in the nuns' choir: a masterpiece of medieval Roman painting, with apostles and angels in delicate colors. It's open with limited hours.

What is Arnolfo di Cambio's ciborium? A finely carved marble Gothic baldachin from 1293 above the altar: one of Arnolfo's earliest masterpieces and among the most beautiful in Rome.

Can you visit the house of St Cecilia? Yes: by descending into the crypt you reach the excavations of the Roman house on which the basilica stands, by tradition the home of the saint.

How much time do you need to see everything? About 30–45 minutes, taking in the statue, the ciborium, Cavallini (if open) and the crypt.

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Article #415 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026