Private Tour with guide & Luxury Car: Holy Churches of Rome

5.0 (8 reviews) 4 hours Free cancellation Private tour

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Private Tour with guide & Luxury Car: Holy Churches of Rome — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Tour with guide & Luxury Car: Holy Churches of Rome, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

On our Holy Church of Rome tour, your personal chauffeur & expert theologian will escort you in a premium luxury vehicle to 3 out of the 4 Papal Basilicas, as well as the Basilica of Santa Croce. These four churches are on the “must see” list if you’re visiting Rome! The Basilica of Mary Major, also known as Our Lady of Snows, is home to the crib of the baby Jesus, is the largest Church to Mary in Rome. Afterwards you will get to see St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome which has the seat of the bishop of Rome, and St. Paul’s outside the Walls. In the Basilica of the Holy Cross, you will see many relics of the Passion of Christ, including pieces of the crown of thorns and the actual cross of Jesus. It is a truly holy and reverent experience with one of our top theologians to accompany you on this tour!

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At a glance

Duration: 4 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: English, Spanish
Operated by: Europe Odyssey Tours di Rahul Raghavan & C.sas

Ages: Children (0–4 years) · Youth (5–17 years) · Adults (18–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: Guide

Itinerary

Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

45 min

Your first stop is the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. A gift from Constantine I to his mother Helen, who built a small chapel to house the relics of the Holy Cross which she found in Jerusalem and transported to Rome. Later this small chapel, originally basilica Eleniana, became the great basilica it is today. This basilica is also one of the stops on the “7 Churches” route that pilgrims used to make on foot during Holy Week.
Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

45 min

Next, stop by the cathedral of Rome and the seat of the Pope himself. The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is the most important church in the world and the most ancient! It is one of the 4 papal basilicas in Rome, and it was the original residence of the popes up until the 14th century.
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

45 min

Next you'll see the basilica that is said to have been commissioned by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself! She appeared to both Pope Liberius and a Roman Patrician, Giovanni, telling them she wished a church to be built in her honor. On August 5th, the Blessed Mother sent a miraculous snowfall, which rested on the Esquiline hill and outlined the layout of the church! Thus she earned her named "Lady of the Snows", and the basilica is now home to the manger of the Christ child.
Basilica Papale Di San Paolo Fuori le Mura

45 min

Your last stop will be St. Paul's Outside the Walls. Located on the outskirts of the ancient Aurelian wall, the burial place of St. Paul was originally a small memorial building called a Cella Memoriae. However, Constantine I commissioned a larger basilica to be built on top of the Cella Memoriae to honor St. Paul. It has been demolished and rebuilt several times, undergoing many restorations and expansions. It was the largest church in Rome until St. Peter’s was built.