Alessandro Sebastiani

Few would conceive the existence of a sanctuary nestled within Rome’s confines, adjacent to the EUR district yet enveloped in pastoral tranquility, where the cacophony of vehicular traffic and the bustling chatter of tourists dissipate into silence. The Abbey of the Three Fountains typically occupies a niche status, compelling visitors to possess a distinct purpose for pilgrimage.

In my personal case, the essence of this place finds its zenith in a masterful display of frescoes chronicling the purportedly apocryphal endowment bestowed by Charlemagne, gifting a constellation of fiefs within Maremma. Among these endowed domains resides Ansedonia, the ancient Latin colony of Cosa.

Nevertheless, the revelation within these hallowed grounds is profound, steeped in the annals of antiquity. Within the place identified as Aquae Silvae since the 6th century AD, echoes resound of the martyrdom of Saint Paul, his martyrdom enshrined within a secluded alcove within the sanctum of the Church of Saint Paul at the Three Fountains. Each cobblestone wall nestled within the labyrinthine nexus of the triad of churches serves as a conduit to epochs past, adorned with remnants of sarcophagi, inscriptions, and marble decorations, serendipitously interwoven to evoke a bygone period predating the medieval age.

Should the serendipitous traveler find themselves within proximity, a sojourn to this enigmatic place is warranted. The odyssey into the annals of memory and historical legacy along the Via Laurentina affords a singular and clandestine detour deserving of recognition.