Spot the Hidden Byzantine Church

When wandering through the central courtyard of Hadrian’s Library, you will notice a complex layout of ruins that do not look like a typical Roman library. This is because you are looking at the remains of a 5th-century Byzantine Tetraconch church, which was built directly in the center of the library's original pool courtyard.

As you explore, look closely at the floor plan to distinguish the Roman foundations from the later Christian brickwork. This architectural superposition tells a fascinating story of how pagan spaces were repurposed by early Christians, a detail many tourists walk right past without realizing.