Footprints on a slab: The house of Domine Quo Vadis

The Church of Domine Quo Vadis, also known as Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Piante, lies 800 meters from Porta San Sebastiano in Rome. According to the apocryphal Acts of Peter, it is the site where Saint Peter met the risen Christ. The sanctuary is believed to have existed since the 9th century, but the current church dates back to 1637, with the 17th-century façade added later. It is possible that the sanctuary was even older, perhaps a Christian adaptation of an already existing temple, given that it is located on the sacred campus dedicated to Rediculus, the Roman 'God of the Return'.

This campus hosted a sanctuary for the cult of the deity, which received devotion by travellers before their departure, especially those going to far-off places. The presence of the Apostle Peter in this area is confirmed by an epigraph in the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian that reads 'Domus Petri' (House of Peter). An epigram by Pope Damasus I in honor of Peter and Paul reads, 'You that are looking for the names of Peter and Paul, you must know that the saints have lived here'.

The footprints on a marble slab at the center of the church are popularly believed to be a miraculous sign left by Jesus, alluded to in the church's official name as 'palmis' refers to the soles of Jesus' feet. The current church is administered by priests of the Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel. It is said that Henryk Sienkiewicz, a Polish author, was inspired to write his novel 'Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero' while sitting in this church.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons