Being an Anglo-Saxon Expat in Medieval Rome Came With a Rare Papal Perk

People in the United Kingdom love Italy. As of 2023, 16.8% of travelers flying out of London’s Heathrow Airport head to Rome Fiumicino Airport. This affinity isn’t new, however—in the medieval era, Rome had a thriving community of Anglo-Saxon expats.

Archaeologists have discovered 20 medieval Anglo-Saxon coins beneath a garden close to the Vatican. The finding represents the first material evidence of the “Schola Saxonum,” or English quarter, and indicates that these visitors had special privileges from the Pope. Researchers…