The tour of the 4 main Basilicas aims to make you relive the itinerary that has been tracked by tourists and pilgrims traveling to Rome for centuries. 

We will start with the Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls, which was built in the place where one of the two patrons of our city was buried.

An immediate sense of immensity and reverence pervades every visitor. It is good to know that this great church, in 1823, was the protagonist of a devastating fire that almost destroyed it entirely. Today it is almost totally rebuilt, but it still retains its splendor as a Jubilee Basilica.

The tour will, then, continue to the oldest church in the world: the Cathedral of St. John in Lateran. This was the first church built by the Emperor Constantine and it is here that, still today as per tradition, the Pope officially becomes the Bishop of Rome. In addition to the explanation of the history of the Church with interesting details, we will take you to visit the Holy staircase which is located on the opposite side of the street, in another complex adjacent to the Basilica. 

After a short lunch break we will take the metro back to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The smallest of the four churches, but the first to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is surprising to know that this church is one of the few in Rome that still retains its original structure. Visiting it will lead you to discover its treasures that still today make it a church of the Catholic tradition a lot beloved by the locals. 

From here we will arrive at the last church of the tour of the 4 main Basilicas: St. Peter’s Basilica.

Center of Christianity par excellence, St. Peter’s Basilica is the symbol of the Vatican, the smallest independent State in the world. Only by visiting it can you understand why Popes like Julius II, Paul III Farnese, Paul V Borghese and Urban VIII or artists of the caliber of Michelangelo, Maderno, Bernini and Borromini wanted to leave their signature on the largest church ever built! 

The tour will end in St. Peter’s Square, not far from the OTTAVIANO metro stop and some bus lines leading to the historic center.

For those interested in visiting the Vatican Museums with My Roman Way, we invite you to read our offer of VATICAN MUSEUMS. Or we recommend the APPIA ANTICA and THE CATACOMBS tour too.