Main Shrines of Rome

What to Expect

The Secrets of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The tour will begin with a visit to one of the most significant cathedrals in Italy - the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. I will tell you the legend of its origin, which dates back to the 4th century. You will see the most important symbols of the basilica: a golden casket with fragments of the manger of the newborn Jesus, a very curious Masonic symbol, and the main icon of all Romans - Maria Salus Populi Romani. Next, we will visit the amazing church of St. Praxedes, where I will show you the column of scourging brought from Jerusalem. You will be impressed by the walls executed in the Byzantine style and the magnificent mosaic adorning the vault. We will also visit the underground crypt where St. Praxedes found her final resting place.

The Holy Stairs and the First Papal Residence
In the second part of the tour, we will head to the Lateran Hill, where the Basilica of St. John Lateran is located. At the entrance, I will show you the bronze gates taken from the Roman Curia on the Forum. You will also see the first papal throne, the praying tablet of St. Peter, and the relics of Saints Peter and Paul. Then we will enter the church of Santa Scala, up the 28 steps that Christ climbed to the trial before Pontius Pilate. We will approach the Holy of Holies, where, according to tradition, there is an image of Christ not made by human hands, created by the evangelist Luke. If you still have energy, we will visit another church - Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, located near the Aurelian Walls. You will see a fragment of the Holy Cross on which the Savior was crucified, the doubting finger of Thomas, and a nail from the wound of Jesus.