San Vitale, Rome

Basilica of Sts. Vitalis, Valeris, Gervase and Protase
Basilica Ss. Vitalis, Valeriae, Gervasii et Protasii(in Latin)
Basilica di Santi Vitale e Compagni Martiri in Fovea(in Italian)
Façade of the Basilica of San Vitale
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
41°53′58.8″N 12°29′27.1″E / 41.899667°N 12.490861°E / 41.899667; 12.490861
Location	Via Nazionale 194/B, Rome
Country	Italy
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Tradition	Roman Rite
Website	Official website
History
Status	Minor basilica, titular church
Dedication	Vitalis of Milan, Valeria of Milan, Gervasius and Protasius
Consecrated	AD 401
Architecture
Architectural type	Church
Style	Paleochristian
Groundbreaking	ca. 400
Specifications
Length	60 metres (200 ft)
Width	18 metres (59 ft)
Clergy
Cardinal protector	Adam Maida

The early Christian imperial basilica of the Saints Martyrs Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio and Protasio known more commonly as the basilica of San Vitale and Compagni Martiri in Fovea (Roman Parish) or more simply as San Vitale al Quirinale. It is the oldest Catholic place of worship in the historic center of Rome, located in via Nazionale. The imperial basilica of San Vitale al Quirinale, built under the pontificate of Pope Siricius after 386 and consecrated and richly decorated by Pope Innocent in 402 (Luigi Hutter and Vincenzo Golzino) is the first public Christian basilica with a baptistery (still not found) not founded on pre-existing pagan temples, mentioned in the Liber pontificalis, built by the Emperor Theodosius at the behest of Saint Ambrose of Milan, in honor of the miraculous discovery of the bodies of martyrs Gervasius and Protasius in Milan. It is the most frescoed basilica in Rome.