San Silvestro in Capite

The Chiesa di San Silvestro lends its name to the square where it is located. The church is also known as "in capite" because it boasts the head of Saint John the Baptist as a relic. The church has undergone various stages of restoration. The first took place at the beginning of the 13th century when the bell tower was added, and the next was between the 16th and 17th centuries when it assumed its present aspect.

Other work was carried out during the later centuries. Famous names such as Maderno and Carlo Rainaldi contributed to this restoration work. The facade is richly decorated with capitals, pilaster strips, and an inscription. The facade also contains two huge statues.

The church's interior is also interesting, and is entered through a portico rich in fragments of memorial stones and plaques. The Basilica is administered by the priests and brothers of the Irish Province of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate - The Pallottines (priests & brothers). This privilege was entrusted to the Pallottines by Pope Leo XIII in 1885.

The community in San Silvestro in Capite are as follows:

Father John Fitzpatrick S. A. C
Brother Stephen Buckley S. A. C.
Father Ruel Jundos