Sant'Anselmo Rome

Gregorian chant on the Aventine

Alexandra from Rome

""Sant’Anselmo" in Rome is definitely worth a visit - especially on a Sunday at 19:15, when the Benedictine monks perform half an hour of Gregorian chants."

Sant’Anselmo may not be as old or as beautiful as some of the other churches on the Aventine Hill, such as the 5th century Santa Sabina, but it’s definitely worth a visit - especially on a Sunday at 19:15. This is when the Benedictine monks living in the adjoining monastery enter the church in a seemingly endless line – at least 60 of them – and perform half an hour of Gregorian chant.

Gregorian chant has been around for centuries, and when you listen to the monks in Sant’Anselmo it certainly feels like you’re being transported back in time. It’s a solemn but peaceful ritual which tends to put me in an almost meditative state. Regardless of your religious beliefs, you can sit in the church for half an hour, listening to the monks singing and breathing in the scent of the incense. It’s a break from normality and a relaxing way to end the week.

And, just like the rest of the Aventine Hill, there’s something mysterious about Sant’Anselmo. Rome is not like other cities, and the Aventine is not like the rest of Rome – it’s a world of its own.

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Rome Spotter Alexandra

About me I grew up in London, studied English Literature at Oxford, and now live in Rome. I'm an English teacher and a freelance writer, writing everything from articles about Rome's history and culture to SEO content about academia and adhesives. I'm also an author. My debut novel, "In Exile", was published by Unbound in 2019. Dionysus is reborn in modern Rome and creates a new cult formed of vulnerable teenage followers. The book was inspired by specific places in Rome - Villa dei Quintili on the Appian Way, the Aventine Hill, the Tiber Island - and it's deeply personal. A...

About this spot

Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 5

€

free

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0657911

Oct 19, 2025

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