Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls
Popular site.  Very crowded

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Since we were seriously behind schedule now, we broke up into two groups.  One would continue on the way of the Seven Basilicas and the other would skip St. Lawrence and go to Santa Maria Maggiore.  We took the latter so there are no recon photos of St. Lawrence.  We do have some intel which is in the second column.

 This church is dedicated to St. Lawrence the deacon who is said to have been martyred in 258 by being roasted alive on a griddle.  He is the patron saint of deacons.  Before his martyrdom, he was asked to hand over the riches of the church.  He returned with a group of the poor people and presented these to his persecutors.

This church dates back to the fourth century.  Its architecture is interesting in that it was originally three different churches combined into one.  Of interest is the tomb of Pope Pius IX (the founder of the North American College).  Mosaics of the crest of the college and the American flag can be found on his tomb.

This is the only church in Rome damaged during the allied bombing of world war II  due to its location near the train tracks.  It has since been restored.

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