San Paolo alle Tre Fontane

This is the entrance to the church on the grounds of the Abby that commemorates the three fountains that sprung from the ground when Paul was executed here.  The water flow of the springs was cut off in 1950 due to contamination.

Note the stones of the ancient road that leads up to the church.

According to tradition, it was here that the Apostle Paul was executed June 29, 67.  The tradition indicates that he was beheaded and that his head bounced on the ground three times and three fountains sprang from the ground where the head bounced.

The current church was built in 1599.  An earlier church was built here in the 5th century A.D.  A monastic community was established here in 641.  St. Bernard stayed here during his time in Rome—1138–40.  The Abby contains three churches.