Rome’s Best Churches (besides the Vatican)

It’s no surprise that the city that has been the centre of the Catholic Church as long as there’s been a Church, the city that boasts Churches dating from the fourth century and the city that claims to have St. Peter’s bones would have such a wealth of fantastic Churches. In fact, the Eternal City boasts over 900 Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas, and one could spend the better part of a month trying to see them all. If you’re only looking at a couple of days in the Italian capital city, here are five Churches you will not want to miss.

Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano

Built by Constantine the Great, the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is Rome’s Cathedral and the first Church of the Popes. Before the Vatican, this is where the Pope sat for nearly a thousand years — from the fourth century until the papacy moved to France in 1309. Going back further, this is the site of the first Christian church ever built in Rome. The Pope lived in the adjoining Lateran Palace, and whether you’re a history buff or you just want to see something truly amazing, this place cannot be missed. Though the current Baroque exterior of the Church is much newer, inside await treats that span the entire history of Christian civilization. There are even some pre-Christian features, like the central bronze doors which once graced the Senate House in the Imperial Forum. Your visit includes the cloisters, a museum to give you historical perspective, the baptistery next door and the Scala Santa and Sancta Sanctorum across the street.

Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore

With 26 Marian Churches in Rome (Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, etc.), you can’t help noticing that this is a city that loves their Saint Mary. But the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore earns its “Maggiore” by being by far the largest. Like San Giovanni in Laterano, this is one of Rome’s four patriarchal churches, and in addition to its large size, there are plenty of goodies spanning the centuries to be seen on the inside. There’s the rich marble floor, the bell tower, the triumphal arch… and then there are the mosaics. The mosaics here date from the fifth century and include some of the oldest representations of the Virgin Mary in Christian Late Antiquity. Be sure not to miss the magnificent mosaics on the arch depicting different scenes of Christ and the Virgin Mary. And it’s hard to miss the spectacular ceiling, which is said to be decorated with gold Columbus brought back from the new world.

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is less important from its time as a Church and much more important as the most well-preserved building from the times of the Roman Empire. If it’s frustrating gazing at the ruins of the Coliseum and the Forum and having to imagine them in all their splendor, there’s no imagining necessary at the Pantheon, as it’s still in the same pristine shape as when it was built back in the year 125 CE by Emperor Hadrian. Granted, this Temple once devoted to all the Roman Gods has undergone some changes since becoming yet another Church devoted to St. Mary, walking in the entrance is largely the same experience as it would have been nearly 2,000 years ago. Until the 20th century, it was the largest concrete structure in the world. The great dome, which spans just over 43 metres, was the largest dome in the world until Brunelleschi’s 1436 dome in Florence. Michelangelo himself studied it before starting work on the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Inside are many tombs, some holding the bodies of Italian monarchs.

Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano

Unfortunately, Rome has no time machine. But the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano makes a pretty good substitute. Located near the Colosseum, the 12th century San Clemente sits on top of a fourth century Church built over a first century Christian meeting place that’s above a first century BCE Mithraic cult chamber. And you’ll be surprised at how many layers and how many artifacts from each layer are still there and can still be seen. You can start in the 21st century and attend a service in the still-active Church. Then you can marvel at 12th century frescoes and the mosaic of the Cross as the Tree of Life. Then travel back in time to the fourth-century Basilica before moving down to the Pagan temple! The history of the Church and what came before it are all incredibly on display in one spot.

Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

But if you’re not satisfied with all these paintings and mosaics and statuary depicting stories from the Bible… If you’d like to see some of the “real thing,” then head to the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Basilica of the Sacred Cross in Jerusalem) and see some of the relics of the actual items. The idea must have been, if you can’t make it to Jerusalem, we’ll bring Jerusalem to you. And with that in mind, this unique Church presents you with a collection of Passion Relics brought to Rome from the Holy Land by St. Helena of Constantinople, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine I. Though the floor is no longer covered with soil from Jerusalem, you can still see part of the Elogium (the panel which was hung on Christ’s Cross, two thorns of the crown, an incomplete nail and three small wooden pieces of the True Cross itself. Other relics include a large fragment of the Good Thief’s cross, the bone of an index finger, said to be the finger St. Thomas placed in the wounds of the Risen Christ and pieces of the Scourging Pillar, the Holy Sepulchre (Christ’s tomb) and the crib of Jesus.

Hotels

Here are some excellent hotel choices, each of which will put you close to each of the five Churches and most of which are themselves set in historical buildings:

The San Giovanni in Laterano Hotel near the Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano

The Hotel Antico Palazzo Rospigliosi near the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore

The Hotel Pantheon near the Pantheon

The Aklesia B&B – Suite Colosseo near the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano

The Domus Sessoriana Hotel near the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme