The basilica, decorated with early medieval frescoes, was uncovered in Tres Tabernae, an ancient settlement along the Via Appia, as reported by the daily newspaper "La Repubblica" (Tuesday).
Tres Tabernae appears in the New Testament as the place where Rome's Christians met the imprisoned Paul to accompany him to the capital of the empire, where he was finally executed.
According to experts, the discovery could change the narrative of the history of Christianity in Italy.
"Buildings have been identified that contain fragments of painted plaster," explained Alessandro Betori from the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology. "There is a possibility that this is the famous monument to St Paul."
New excavation campaign
In the 3rd century, Tres Tabernae, today part of the city of Cisterna di Latina, became a bishop's see.
However, a church dedicated to St Paul the Apostle later disappeared. The small basilica with apse and wall paintings now discovered by the experts suggests that it was built in memory of St Paul's stay.
Following the discovery of the basilica, a new excavation campaign is now to be launched under the direction of the Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology, it was reported.
Tres Tabernae was an important point in ancient history: in 312 BC, Consul Appius Claudius Caecus began the construction of the Via Appia, an important trade route over 540 kilometres long, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2024 as the "Via Appia Antica".
It provided the Roman Empire with a direct connection from Rome to Brindisi in Apulia - and from there by ship to the Orient.
With the invasion of the Lombards and the expansion of the surrounding marshes, people gradually left the area around Tres Tabernae.