The Churches of Rome tour included three of the most suggestive Papal Basilicas of Rome: the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano and the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (in english, Basilica of St. Mary Major), is the fist roman church we will visit during our Churches of Rome Tour. This is the most important Papal Basilica dedicated to the cult of Virgin Mary. The Basilica was built at the top of the Esquiline Hill, above Roman remains. We will start the guided tour to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore by admiring the facade, re-designed in the 1700s by Ferdinando Fuga and superimposed on the previous one from the 13th century, still visible behind the Loggia of Blessings. During the visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, we will see the profound transformations of the Basilica, which include the two lateral chapels (Sistina and Paolina), and the altar, with one of the most holy icons of the Middle Ages: the pictures of Mary, Salus Popoli Romani.

The second step of the tour among the most important roman churches is in San Giovanni in Laterano, also known in english as Basilica of St. John Lateran.
This is the cathedral dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour and to the saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. We will begin St. John Lateran’s tour from the majestic facade made by Galilei, crowned by fifteen colossal statues of Christ, John the Baptist and Evangelist, and the Doctors of Church.
In the atrium, we may admire the bronze panels of the central door, which come from the Curia of the Roman Forum. The last door on the right is the Porta Santa (Holy Door).

Last step of the Churches of Rome tour will be at the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura, known in english as St. Paul Basilica outside the Walls. The Christian tradition says that in this place, on the Via Ostiense, was buried the Apostle Paul. Initially a burial chapel was built, then transformed into a Basilica and consecrated, according to the tradition, in 324 by Pope Sylvester I.