Join our tour to visit two of the most important papal basilicas, the St. John’s Lateran and St. Mary Major. St. John’s Lateran was the first cathedral and once a papal residence before the Vatican. We will also tour through the Holy Stairs reputed to be from Jerusalem.
On this tour by minivan your expert guide will take you to visit the first Cathedral of Rome, the St. John’s Lateran, which also used to be the papal residence. Then we will visit the largest Marian church in Rome of St. Mary Major. Passing through Emperor Constantine the Great’s baptismal place and the Holy Stairs from Jerusalem, we will proceed along the ancient road of the Appian Way and visit the Christian catacombs.
After passing through the Appian Way, the earliest road built in ancient Rome, we will go visit the Christian Catacombs in the ancient underground Cemeteries that was excavated from the 2nd century onwards. They were built outside the wall along the Via Appia, the Via Ostiense, the Via Labicana, and Via Nomentana.
Dedicated to Mary, it is the largest Catholic Marian Church in Rome. St. Mary Major is one of the major papal basilicas. Explore the magnificent mosaics of the nave with the depiction of Mary and the scenes of her life as well as some scenes from the Old Testament. St. Mary Major was once a temporary Palace of the Popes. The Basilica is located in a lively area of Rome, full of attractions, shops and restaurants and it is also lovely to have a look around, for example to admire the elegant Via Merulana.
Not far from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, there is the basilica dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Known to be the first cathedral and papal residence before the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica was built, it is the oldest and the highest ranking major papal church of Rome. According to the Catholic Tradition, the Holy Stairs, Scala Sancta was sanctified by the footsteps of Jesus during His passion. It is also known to be the baptismal place of Emperor Constantine the Great.
If you liked this tour of Rome, try also the Tour of the city center of Rome by bike with food tasting or the Small group tour of Colosseum, Romanum Forum and ancient Rome with skip-the-line-tickets!
Meeting point information and local telephone numbers at your destination are included on your Confirmation Voucher.
This tour will depart with a minimum of 2 participants, maximum 7.
We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothes.
It is not permitted to enter Churches in shorts, uncovered shoulders, miniskirts.