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Religious Sites in Rome
For centuries, Rome has been associated as one of the world’s leading seats of religion. The very core of the Catholic Church is housed here in the fascinating and attractive Vatican City. Vatican City houses the Pope’s Vatican Palace and Papal Gardens along with St Peter's Square and Basilica, but perhaps the most renowned religious site here is the world famous Sistine Chapel, which has some amazing frescoes by Michelangelo. Rome is also home to The Great Synagogue of Rome, one of the largest working Jewish synagogues in the world. The building was constructed shortly after the unification of Italy in 1870, when the Italians captured Rome from the Napoleonic regime. Other noteworthy religious sites include the 16th-century French Church, situated at the top of the famous Spanish Steps and the Church of Saint Agnese in Agone, which was commissioned in 1652 by Pope Innocent X.
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Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
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Address: Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Phone: +39 06 6988 6452
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Often referred to as as the Mother of all Churches, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, is one of the major religious sites in Rome that every year welcomes pilgrims from around the world. Traditionally it is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, from where, the Pope gives his annual benediction on Maundy Thursday during the Holy Week.
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Church of Saint Mary in Aracoeli
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Address: Piazza d'Aracoeli
Phone: +39 06 679 81 55
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Situated on the Capitoline Hill, this church was built in the 13th Century by the convent of Franciscans. Inside there is a Renaissance ceiling and a splendid Byzantine style mosaic depicting the Virgin Mary.The interiors also hold a tombstone carved by the great Renaissance artist, Donatello. The church is particularly known for its Bufalini Chapel by Bernardino di Betto, called Pinturicchio, who orned it with scenes depicting the life and death of Saint Bernardino of Siena. The Church of Saint Mar is set just off the Piazza del Campidoglio, from where you can easily reach the Museo Capitolino.
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The Sistine Chapel
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Address: Viale Vaticano
Phone: +39 06 6988 4947
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The world famous Sistine Chapel lies in the Pope’s official home in Vatican City in the Apolistic Palace. It is renowned for its magnificent architecture, reminiscent of the Bible’s Temple of Solomon. Some of the world’s greatest Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Pergino have contributed to its décor. It is probably best known as the place where new popes are elected.
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Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
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Address: Via Ostiense 168
Phone: +39 06 541 03 41
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The Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls Basilica known locally as the Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura is considered to be one of Rome’s greatest basilicas. It was established by the Roman Emperor, Constantine I in what is alleged to be St Paul’s burial ground. Over the years the basilica underwent a great deal of change, which resulted in its near total destruction by fire in 1823.
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Saint Laurence's Basilica
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Address: Piazzale del Verano 3
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This charming basilica is known in Rome as San Lorenzo fuori le Mura and in English as Saint Lawrence outside the Walls. It is one of Rome’s most significant churches and belongs to the group known as the 'Seven Pilgrimages of Rome'. The church’s namesake St Lawrence was one of the city’s first seven deacons who was martyred in the 3rd Century. It is also the burial place of Pope Pius IX.
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Il Gesu
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Address: Piazza del Gesù
Phone: +39 06 697 001
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The Church of the Gesù in Rome was erected in 1568 – 84 by Ignatius Loyola for the Jesuit Order, to allow closer contact with church services and the congregation; the nave is entirely devoid of isles. A centerpiece here is the Baroque work 'Triumph in the Name of Jesus' by the 17th-century painter Baciccia. The piece covers almost the entire nave ceiling. Further notables are the late 17th-century Chapel of Sant’Ignazio and the altar, containing a huge chunk of the lapis lazuli gemstone. The Loyola Rooms are open to the public, and guided tours are available.
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Protestant Cemetery
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Address: Via Caio Cestio 6
Phone: +39 06 574 1900
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The scenic and lushy green Protestant Cemetery is situated in the midst of hectic traffic and city noise. It was particularly built in the late 18th Century for foreign visitors who happened to die in Rome. Although the cemetery bears the name 'Protestant', this is generally the city's non-Catholic burial ground, featuring tombstones of Buddhists, Atheists, Protestants and Orthodox Christians. Of particular note here is the oldest section, containing the tombs of poets Keats and Shelley, who both shared a fascination with Greek Antiquity and Ancient Rome.
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St Peters Basilica
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Address: Piazza di San Pietro
Phone: +39 06 6988 3462
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Website: http://www.vatican.va/
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Set in the heart of Vatican, the basilica of Saint Peter is considered one the holiest sites for the adherents of Christianity and the greatest of all Catholic churches. The legend has it that the basilica was built on the burial site of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the first Bishop of Rome. In 324 AD Constantine commissioned a basilica to be built over Peter's tomb. That structure stood for more than 1,000 years until it verged on collapse. The present basilica, mostly completed in the 15th and 16th Centuries, represents the best example of High Renaissance and Baroque. Inside, the massive scale showcases some of greatest Italian artists such as: Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo or Maderno.
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