Besides the ever-famous St Peter’s Basilica, Rome is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and breathtaking churches. It has over 900 churches in all. Here you’ll find a list of churches that stand out from the crowd.
Santa Maria Basilica
Built in 440, the Basilica di Santa Maria, dedicated to Mother Mary, is an important and ancient one. Its 5th century murals on the arch above the altar illustrate scenes from The Old Testament.
St. Lawrence Church
The Church is built just outside Rome in dedication to Saint Lawrence. The Church’s origins go back to the 6th century. Nearly every Pope has contributed funds to the church, making it a major and elaborate religious complex in terms of world rankings.
San Giovanni, Laterano
Saint John Lateran is Rome’s official cathedral where the Pope sits. An important basilica in the city, it is believed to be one of the oldest Catholic churches in Rome.
Saint Maria Sopra Minerva
Saint Maria Sopra Minerva was built on the ruins of a monument built in honor of Goddess Minerva. The Dominicans built it somewhere around the 13th century AD. It is a Gothic Church of grandeur. It also houses a sculpture by Michelangelo.
Santa Maria del Popolo Basilica
According to legend, this church was built around 1100 AD in response to resident’s fears of the spirit of Emperor Nero haunting the area. The inside of the church is a treasure trove full of art works by greats like Raphael and Bernini.
The Basilica of Saint Clement
The Saint Clement’s Basilica is an architecturally significant monument in the Roman cityscape. Built in the 12th-century over a Roman temple, which was itself built above a pagan temple, the basilica is a standing testimony to Rome’s history.
Basilica di Sant’Agostino
Though it is a lesser known church, the St Augustine church, a Renaissance structure, houses many beautiful artworks. A notable piece of work at the church is Caravaggio’s Madonna of the Pilgrims, which in its time created a furor for its realistic depiction of a pilgrim.
The Pantheon
Alternately known as the Basilica of Saint Mary and the Martyrs, the Pantheon was initially a pagan temple which was later converted to a Catholic church. It is still in use. By some estimates, its dome is the single largest concrete dome in the world.
Lots of visitors might be visiting Rome as mere tourists. But deep down, the best Vatican city tours are those where a little homage is paid to the almighty. May your prayers at these churches stand answered. And may you have many more Vatican city tours in the future.
0 Comments