Anno Paolino Bimillenario della nascita di San Paolo Apostolo -

As part of a general restructuring programme for the area around the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, outlined by the archpriest Cardinal Andrea di Montezemolo (an architect and professor) and approved by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, the working project was presented on Monday May 11^th, drawn up by the Muzi firm from Rome to be carried out by the Castelli construction company, also from Rome, who won the bid for the building work. The first building to go up will occupy an area of a thousand square metres and will house some of the services which are essential for the daily running of the basilica, including a storeroom for the four thousand chairs used for seating pilgrims, which are currently stacked up in the left hand nave. It will also contain a workshop for the repair and maintenance of furnishings, a shop for the sale of books, souvenirs and other religious objects which is currently housed in a prefabricated building and a refreshment area which pilgrims have regularly requested. On the lower level floor of this building, the archaeological finds which came to light during recent excavations carried out by the Vatican Museums and by the Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology with the support of St Paul’s Basilica, will be kept on display for visitors. The existing and rather run down building in that area which currently provides housing for the custodians of the basilica, will also undergo major reconstruction work. It will be transformed into offices for the basilica which are currently located in rooms belonging to the adjacent Benedictine monastery and in the display area of the cloisters. Six new lodgings for the custodians will be provided in a third building which forms part of the overall construction project.