Rome is the cradle of culture and the Roman Empire, and today it is also the capital of picturesque Italy, which annually attracts millions of tourists who intend to see with their own eyes the architectural and sculptural masterpieces of the city. Among the many attractions, a special place is occupied by its churches, which are not only spiritual centers, but also extraordinary monuments of architecture, sculpture and other types of art. Each church in Rome has its own unique history, style and atmosphere. By visiting these shrines, you will be able to plunge into the past, feel the grandeur and majesty of Roman culture, and also find peace of mind. In this article, we will talk about the most outstanding churches of Rome, which are worth visiting for anyone who wants to get to know this great city more deeply.
First of all, it is worth noting that there are four largest, or as they are called, Patriarchal Basilicas in Rome, which are definitely worth a visit, because, in addition to their size, they have many other advantages and features that you would definitely like to see if you are interested in religious architecture.
Saint Peter’s Basilica
Indeed, the first on our list is St. Peter’s Basilica – the most famous religious building in Rome (if not the whole world) and there are many reasons for that. In particular, according to the official information of the Church, the Basilica was built on the burial place of the apostle and the first church on this place was built in the fourth century. Since then, of course, it has undergone several reconstructions and is now one of the most popular places of pilgrimage for Christians from all over the world. And thanks to its architecture, sculpture, painting and the incredible beauty of all this in the complex, the temple attracts even far from religious people who simply appreciate art.
St. Paul’s Basilica
In second place is the church of another apostle – the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, which was also built on the place of his burial and is not inferior in beauty and grandeur to the Basilica of St. Peter. The defining characteristic of this church is that it contains mosaics depicting all the Popes. The relics of the saint are under the main throne, on which his shackles are kept.
Saint John’s Basilica
The Metropolitan Cathedral – St. John’s Basilica, which was built on the site of the first Roman church and underwent many reconstructions over the course of hundreds of years. The modern basilica was built in the sixteenth-seventeenth centuries and stands today. Here you can see, in addition to the unique architecture that was characteristic of religious buildings of that time, also the statues of the twelve apostles on the main nave and a lot of elegant sculpture both outside and inside the temple.
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Another church worth visiting in Rome is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the largest of the Marian churches, built in the fifth century. According to church records, it was built according to tradition at the place where snow fell for the first time, which marked the place for the temple. In this temple there is a part of Jesus’ Manger, which was brought to the temple in the seventeenth century, and you will also find here a remarkable iconographic monument that attracts many pilgrims. It is about the miraculous icon “Salvation of the Roman People”, which is better known among believers.
There are hundreds of churches in Rome, so you’ll need a long vacation to visit them all. But if you want to visit the sights, then the patriarchal basilicas that we have described today are exactly the minimum plan that will give you an idea of religious architecture, sculpture, painting and, after all, these are the places where you will have the opportunity to feel a unique atmosphere of goodness surrounded by such beauty. It would be appropriate to note that there is not a single church in Rome that is not worth visiting, because the Italians – high connoisseurs of beauty, made artistic masterpieces out of everything they touched.