Religious Rome

Description:

The Vatican is among the most important historical sites in the world. The seat of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, The Vatican is also the home of the Pope. As the smallest state in the world, the Vatican has figured in key events throughout history. Occupying about one half kilometer of Rome, The Vatican is further significant because of its fabulous architecture, religious, and artistic treasures. It was Pope Julius II della Rovere in the 16th century who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the history of creation on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Among countless other notable events in the history of this important city are the convening of the College of Cardinals, at the death of a reigning Pontiff, for the purposes of electing a new Pope. No visit to Rome is complete without an excursion to The Vatican, a place so steeped in history and tradition that you will never forget it.

Our Local Expert Says:

Lines to enter the museum are inevitable throughout the entire year. The only way to be sure to avoid them is by booking or joining a tour as the tickets are pre-purchased.

Description:

This unique art collection is exhibited in surroundings of unparalleled beauty. The magnificent Raphael Rooms are among the masterpieces of the collection, where each room is decorated with frescoes by great artists. The best known is The School of Athens, in which contemporary artists appear as classical characters (Leonardo da Vinci, for example, appears as Plato). The Sistine Chapel is the museum's finest treasure, and features Michelangelo's famous Last Judgement. He was one of many artists including Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Pinturicchio who contributed to the chapel.

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Visiting Rome for the first time, visitors must experience the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican structure with 50 million monthly visitors. The Chapel was built between 1477 and 1481 by Pope Sixtus IV. From 1480 to 1483 the walls were decorated by famous artists of Renaissance, such as Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio. After twenty years, Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to decorate the ceiling in 1508. Today, after the restoration, tourists can visit the chapel and see Michelangelo's 'Last Judgement'. The Vatican has placed its enormous art collection on the Web in hopes that it will attract more tourists. The site allows visitors to take a virtual reality tour of some of the dozen museums and galleries that make up the Vatican collection, viewing Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel with a three-dimensional video. At the Chapel, you will invariably find it crowded with hundreds of tourists, so be prepared. The best way to see it is to go to the Vatican Museums early, so that you're among the first in line when they open. Silence should be observed and photography is not prohibited.

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People come by the millions each year to receive the Pope's blessing, traditionally given on Sundays at noon. St Peter's has undergone many transformations since the original Constantine basilica of AD320. The top of its majestic dome (designed by Michelangelo), provides the best vantage point from which to marvel at Bernini's magnificent colonnade surrounding the square, the gilded bronze canopy above the altar and Michelangelo's Pietà. Bramante, Pietro da Cortona and Canova are just a handful of the many other artists who worked together on this monumental basilica's decoration and design.

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Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, restored by Domitian, and subsequently rebuilt by Hadrian (who added the dome) before being turned into a church in the early 7th century by Pope Boniface IV. The building's sole source of light is the opening at the dome's apex (the oculus); according to popular legend, this formed the base for the bronze pinecone that is now in the Vatican's 'Pigna' courtyard, where it is used as a fountain. Many famous Italians are buried in the Pantheon, including Renaissance painter Raphael and King Vittorio Emanuele I.

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In the 7th century a church was built in order to house the chain from Constantinople that was said that to have been one of two used to bind St Peter when he was in prison carcere mamertino. The second chain was sent to Rome at a later date and when it was brought into the church it miraculously attached itself to the other chain. You can still see these chains under the altar, and this is how the church got its name 'San Pietro in Vincoli', meaning St Peter in chains. The church is also renowned for the tomb with the famous statue of Moses by Michelangelo, which was commissioned by Pope Julius II. Richly decorated with frescoes, the interior houses works by Guercino and Giovanbattista Parodi, as well as a beautiful mosaic icon of St Sebastian from the 7th century. The cloister, built at the end of the 15th century, is also worth visiting.

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Piazza della Minerva is just off Via della Minerva behind the Pantheon. The name of the church, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, was given by the church's position as it is believed it was built over the Roman temple dedicated to Minerva Calcidica. Work began on the church in 1280 but the façade was only completed in 1453. In fact this was meant to be temporary but it has remained unaltered despite many plans up until the 19th century to modify it. The interior is the only example of Gothic architecture in Rome. The 3 naves are crowned by cross vaults resting on marble pillars, but the most arresting sight is the decoration which is a true work of art. The chapels are decorated with frescoes and mosaics by artists like Melozzo da Forlì, Andrea Bregno, Verrocchio, Giuliano da Maiano, and Filippo Lippi but just as worthy are the statue of Christ Risen (also known as Christ the Redeemer) by Michelangelo who depicted Christ with the symbols of his martyrdom embracing the Cross, the funerary monuments of Popes Leo X and Clement VII by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger behind the altar, and the Tomb of Cardinal Domenico Pimentel designed by Bernini. The funerary monument and sarcophagus of St. Catherine of Siena were restored for the Jubilee. On one side of the church can be seen the former convent which was once the offices of the Ministry of Education and now of the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Research. It also holds the Casanatense Library with texts from the history of the Church. In the centre of the square in front of the church stands a small Egyptian obelisk known as the Pulcin della Minerva.

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A visit to this basilica is a fascinating journey through time. From the upper basilica, which dates from the beginning of the 12th century and whose apse boasts the mosaic 'The Triumph of the Cross', one passes into the 4th-century lower basilica, and, via a stairway, down to the roman constructions and to the 'mitreo', a 3rd-century temple dedicated to the God Mithra. Of particular interest are the frescoes in the chapel of St. Catherine, painted between 1428 and 1431 by Masolino da Panicale, possibly with the collaboration of Masaccio.

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San Giovanni in Laterano is the oldest church in the world. It was founded by Pope Melchiade at the start of the 4th century on the ruins of the villa of the Roman family, the Laterani. The church's current appearance was created by Borromini for the 1650 Jubilee. Although he retained the 16th century ceiling and floor, the architect altered the appearance by joining pairs of columns in the central nave to make a single pillar inside. In this he built coloured marble niches and placed statues of the apostles. In 1735, Alessandro Galilei renewed the façade entirely in travertine stone and crowned it with 15 statues, and at the end of the 19th century the apse was also rebuilt. The admission to the basilica is free.

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The statue of St Francis of Assisi stands to the right of the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano on a large base made from peperino stone. It is seven metres tall and was made by the sculptor Tonnini in 1925 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the saint's death. St Francis has his arms held out wide to symbolically embrace St John while being surrounded by the bronze figures of his own disciples. The location of the monument is visually important between San Giovanni and the basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.

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On Good Friday this location is packed with pilgrims who perform penitence by climbing these twenty-eight wood-covered steps on their knees. According to tradition, these steps were trod by Christ when he was led to Pontius Pilate for his trial. St Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, brought the steps to Rome from Jerusalem. Pope Sixtus V had them placed in their present position. They are covered in wood so that no foot can touch them, and this is the reason why the faithful climb up them on their knees.

Description:

This church was founded by St Helen, mother of the Emperor Constantine, when she returned from the Holy Land with the remains of the Cross on which Christ was crucified. It was built in the atrium of the queen's palace, which was divided into three naves, with an apse added. The basilica is on one of the seven routes of pilgrimage. Over the centuries it has undergone various renovations: on the inside, where a series of mosaics (many times restored) were placed; and on the outside, where a convent was built. The tomb of Cardinal Francisco Quinones, an example of Sansovino's Roman period, is at the centre of the apse. The church you see nowadays dates from the changes ordered by Pope Benedict XIV in the early 18th century. The interior conserves the three naves, but only part of the original granite columns remains. The façade was built by Domenico Gregorini and Pietro Passalacqua and can be considered as one of the last examples of Roman Baroque.

Description:

A restaurant that boasts a 30-year tradition in which courtesy, class and good cooking reign supreme. Recommended are the Fegato d'oca tartufato and the Filetto alla Bordolese, the cheese fondues and fondue Bourguignon. The soups and soufflé are also particularly good. Booking is advisable.

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Santa Maria Maggiore harmonizes a great variety of architectural styles: the naves date from the 15th century, the bell-tower is medieval, the ceiling is from the Renaissance and the domes are Baroque. Here, one might say, the entire history of ecclesiastical architecture is united under one roof. The Capella Sforza is by Michelangelo. The finest fresco painters of the age took turns decorating the walls of this imposing edifice, and it is said that the magnificent ceiling was gilded with the first gold brought back from America by Christopher Columbus. Over the years certain details of the basilica have been destroyed, notably the mosaics that used to decorate the apse, which dates from 1200. The bell-tower was rebuilt in the 14th century, to the original design, after being destroyed in an earthquake. Popes Sixtus V and Paul V are buried here.

Description:

This basilica was constructed on the ancient site of a grocery market. Its famous facade consists of a portico with arches, inside which is a stone mask known as The Mouth of Truth, reputed to bite off the hand of any liar who dares to reach inside. Inside the basilica is a mosaic-covered floor and a wooden ceiling, added during successive restorations. Later restorations added the choir with two pulpits and the high altar in red granite. The seven story, Romanesque bell tower is considered the most beautiful in Rome.

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The church was built on the remains of a Roman noblewoman's home. Her name was Lucina, from which the church takes its name. San Lorenzo's was first restored at the beginning of the 12th century. The interior was completely restructured in 1600; its design was changed so as to have Baroque-style side chapels replacing the two aisles. One of the chapels has busts by Bernini and Guido, and Reni's painting The Crucifixion has pride of place above the main altar. The French artist Nicolas Poussin is buried here and a sepulchral monument was created here in his honour.

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This longtime favorite, opened in 1856 and now run by the Mazzarella and Boni families, celebrates the Jerusalem artichoke (which is not really an artichoke at all, by the way) by incorporating it into a number of recipes. The advice and suggestions put forth by the uniformed crew of hardworking waiters are worth considering. You might begin with aromatic fritto misto vegetariano (artichokes, cheese-and-rice croquettes, mozzarella, and stuffed squash blossoms) before moving on to a fish filet, veal, succulent beans, or a pasta creation. Many of the foods are fried or deep-fried but emerge flaky and dry, not at all greasy.

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This is the first Rome church to be consecrated to the Madonna. Its foundations were laid in approximately 400, when Christianity was only just beginning to take root in Europe. The present edifice is dated 1300 and contains beautiful mosaics by Pietro Cavallini, especially those dedicated to the life of the Virgin Mary. There is a magnificent life-size icon, 'La Madonna della Clemenza', from as early as the 7th century. The nave is formed from granite columns taken from ancient Roman edifices. The 12th-century mosaics of the façade, depicting the Madonna and child and ten women holding lamps, are not to be missed. The portico was renovated in the 18th century by Carlo Fontana and the balustrade is decorated with statues of Popes, baroque additions which do not detract from the church's original medieval aspect.

Description:

This fairly unknown church was designed and built in 1612 by Sebregondi over an earlier church in front of which, in 1546, the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared crying on the scene of a cruel crime. The event is commemorated in a fresco, the Madonna of the Lament, over the high altar. There is also the painting of the Miracle of the Weeping Madonna opposite the organ on one of the two sides of the altarpiece. Entrance to the church in the shape of a Greek cross is from either of two side roads, Via del Pianto and Via Santa Maria dei Calderari, and not from the main façade, which was never completed. The main façade faces 'Piazza Giudìa' in the district known as the Ghetto where the Jews were required to live during the 16th-19th centuries.

Our Local Expert Says:

While still populated with Italian Jews, many former residents of the Ghetto have moved outside the city center since the area has become very popular, and therefore very expensive.

Description:

This area has been frequented by the Jewish community since the year 1000, thus the name "ghetto." It is full of archeological remains, dating to the medieval period and earlier. The significant monuments that can be seen include Octavia's Portico, built by Augustus for his sister, now incorporating the church of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria. Cola di Rienzo was born in this area, and a plaque marks his birthplace in what was once Via della Fiumara. The Synagogue, with its square dome, is very different from the surrounding Roman city architecture, and on the wall of the riverside street there are slabs with inscriptions commemorating the death of the Jews in the Nazi concentration camps and at the Fosse Ardeatine.

Description:

Via del Portico d'Ottavia was a type of boundary for Jewish people confined to the Ghetto. The Jewish Ghetto was created in 1500 following an order by Paul IV and the Jewish people of Rome have lived here since 1870. The left side of the street has remained almost unchanged. There are some very interesting Medieval and Renaissance buildings, such as the house of Lorenzo Manilio at numbers 1-2, and the buildings at numbers 8-11 and 12-15. They all have picturesque windows and porticos. There is also the church of S. Gregorio a Ponte Quattro Capi, known as the church of the Divina Pietà and, at the bottom of the street, the old remains of the Portico d'Ottavia.

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The New Synagogue was built in memory of the Ghetto which was created under the orders of Paolo IV in the middle of the 16th century. Rome's Jewish population was forced to live in the Ghetto's squalid conditions until 1870. The Synagogue remains under continual police surveillance. The Jewish community has a permanent exhibition inside which includes prints, silver, holy objects and other items which help to introduce visitors to Jewish culture.

Description:

Entrance to the museum is complemented by a visit to the nearby synagogue. Some of the magnificent objects on display include crowns, silverware, Torahs, and tallits (the cloak that Jews wear during prayers.) One section shows the persecution the Jews have endured through the 2000 years of their history. There are copies of the Papal edict that banned Jews from certain activities during the 16th century, and accounts of the Nazi horrors in the concentration camps. The ticket to the museum includes a visit to the nearby synagogue facing the Tiber, which was built in 1870.

Description:

Vecchia Roma is a charming, moderately priced trattoria in the heart of the Ghetto. Movie stars have frequented the place, sitting at the crowded tables in one of the four small dining rooms. The owners are known for their frutti de mare (fruits of the sea), a selection of briny fresh seafood. The minestrone is made with fresh vegetables, and an interesting selection of antipasti, including salmon or vegetables, is always available. The pastas and risottos are savory, including linguine alla marinara with calamari and risotto with red cabbage and "fruits of the sea." The chef's specialties are lamb and spigola (a type of white fish).

Description:

This popular pub in the heart of Rome has two rooms playing two different kinds of music at the same time. The music is mainly Latin American: songs are chosen by DJs such as Renato Santos, a Brazilian who offers 'full immersion' in Brazilian culture with music, dance, art and atmosphere from the land of the Carnival. Live music is provided every Thursday, with salsa, and there is funk/soul disco music on other evenings. Saturdays are devoted to pop, hip hop, funk and soul.