San Giuseppe dei Falegnami Church (Rome)

 Roman Catholic church, 17th century construction

San Giuseppe dei Falegnami is a church dedicated to St Joseph of Nazareth the Carpenter.
Construction of the baroque church started in 1597.
The church lies on top of the Chapel of the Crucifix, which in turn is on top of the Mamertine Prison.
Below the church lies a chapel where a 16th century crucifix is venerated. The chapel was excavated between the floor of the church and the Mamertine Prison.
First constructed in the 7th century BC, this was a prison for condemned enemies of the State. According to legend, St Peter was imprisoned here before he was martyred at the Circus of Nero and Caligula at the site of the Piazza San Pietro. Other known prisoners are Vercingetorix the Gaul and Simon bar Jiora, who defended Jerusalem against Titus. The tradition of St Peter's imprisonment exactly here is uncertain, but not improbable. The stairs down to the cell are a later addition; the prisoners were lowered down into the cell through the circular hole in the floor. The cell has been turned into a chapel dedicated to St Peter. It was incorporated in San Giuseppe in 1597, and consecrated in 1726 by Pope Benedict XII (1724-1730).
(The church is normally open only on Sundays, while the Mamertine prison is usually open every day. )