Rome Christian tours

This three-hour itinerary, led by either a theologian, art historian, or architect, is designed to give you an in-depth knowledge of Saint Peter's Basilica, principle Church of the popes. As we walk down the via della Conciliazione, a 20th century urban construction that greatly altered the area, your docent will begin exploring the topography of Vatican hill and the historical precendents for the church that now stands there. We then progress through the square, designed by Bernini, to enter the basilica proper. Inside, we make a circuit through the church, guided by key artworks (the Pieta, the Baldacchino, etc.) focusing on the history of the Vatican in general and this basilica in particular.

We will then proceed to the Vatican Grottoes (Tomb of the Popes), which is situated between the floor level of the Constantinian Basilica and the nave of the modern Basilica. Giving us a sense of how the old Basilica was structured, we will also view and discuss the tombs of several Popes ...

See the best of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on a comprehensive 1.5-hour walking tour. Led by a knowledgeable Vatican guide, your tour starts with a leisurely walk around St Peter's Square, before continuing into St Peter's Basilica with a priority-access ticket. As you walk, hear tales of the popes, pilgrims and legendary artists who, throughout history, have helped make St Peter's Basilica the awe-inspiring place it is today. Numbers are limited to 20 people on this St Peter's Basilica tour, ensuring you'll enjoy a more personalized experience ...

The visit to St. John Lateran Basilica and its surrounding area is essential to understand the origins and rise of the Catholic church from the time of Constantine the Great to the late medieval period. Founded and built by Constantine after his legendary dream of the Cross as a sign of victory, San Giovanni (St. John) remained the seat of Christian officialdom until ...

Your three-hour afternoon guided tour of Christian Rome begins with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on the Esquiline Hill, where your guide will show you some of the treasures inside. You'll then see the Holy Staircase and make an inside visit of the Basilica of St John in Lateran, the cathedral of Rome.

Next, you'll proceed along the ancient Appian Way, passing the Chapel of Domine Quo Vadis before arriving at the Catacombs, the ancient underground cemeteries and hiding places of the Christians. A visit will be made to either the Catacombs of San Callisto, Santa Domitilla or San Sebastiano, depending on seasonal conditions. The tour ends with a spectacular view of the Baths of Emperor Caracalla ...

See the Vatican as VIPs do – with this once-in-a-lifetime private Sistine Chapel viewing and tour of the Vatican Museum's secret rooms. This exclusive gives you unprecedented VIP access to the magnificent rooms usually off-limits to the public. Be awed by secret rooms like the Niccoline Chapel and the Room of Gold, and see classic sights like Raphael’s Rooms. This VIP experience includes skip-the-line entry and ends with an after-hours private viewing of the Sistine Chapel, empty except for your small group (average 10 people) and guide ...

Due to a new Vatican partnership, this tour provides VIP access through a reserved door, allowing you to skip all the lines – even the priority lines. Numbers are also limited to just 10 people on this unique Vatican tour, ensuring you'll see the very best of the Vatican Museums in a small-group atmosphere, inclduing visists to the sacred Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms, and St. Peters Basilica where your guide will explain the highlights of the basilica and its significance as the holiest place in Christendom, before your tour ends in stunning St Peter's Square ...

Throughout history various institutions, whether it be the government or the Church, have used art and architecture to promote and further their interests. This three-hour walk looks at how Rome has provided a canvas of sorts for the interplay of power and art across two millennia. We'll cover a wide range of important as well as little-known monuments and artworks, taking a thematic cut through the city center in the company of a local university professor, architect, or historian. We begin atop the Capitoline Hill, the religious apex of ancient Rome, just steps from the temple of Jupiter—symbol of the empire. With the Roman Forum behind us, we begin with what some have considered a "perfect piazza," Michelangelo's Campidoglio ...

Crowned by the regal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Esquiline Hill (yes, one of the seven) is home to several important early Christian churches in Rome. The artwork contained within often reflects a turning point in Roman history, when Christianity was emerging from the shadows and basking in the sunlight of its legalization and skyrocketing popularity. During the course of this walk, we will visit several places of worship which illustrate the changes in style and iconography and the role of art in Christian worship during the Medieval age ...

Enlist the services of a specific docent in the Context Travel network for a customized, private tour of whatever it is in Rome you would like to explore—Christian or otherwise. Tours can last from an orientation walk of 2–3 hours to hiring a private guide for three days. Context docents in Rome include archaeologists and philosophers, Byzantine scholars and art historians who specialize in Papal Rome—including one Roman native whose grandfather was a Palatine honor guard to the pope ...

This is a seasonal walk available only from December 8 until January 8 of each year. Christmas in Rome has always been a spectacular time of year. Steeped in tradition, most churches display elaborate nativities, for veneration during the Christmas season. We will explore the meaning and function of these relics and nativities as they relate to the Christmas tradition.

We begin at the church of St. Mary Major, where relics of the Christ child's manger, normally covered by Pope Pius IV's reconstruction of the high altar, stand exposed during the Christmas season. We will also discuss one of the oldest nativity scenes in Rome, carved in marble by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1280. Depicting the arrival of the Magi, the scene was almost entirely destroyed during the 16th century when Pope Sixtus V ordered it moved. The remaining figures, all beautifully carved, can be viewed only during the holiday season.

We then continue through the Monti neighborhood where we may stop for a coffee and ...

Journey along Rome's ancient Appian Way to take a guided walking tour through the Catacombs. You'll travel by coach to the southern edge of ancient Rome and gain a unique perspective on the city and its history. Combining coach and travel on foot, your morning guided tour takes you beyond the city walls and along the rustic Appian Way. You will make three stops along the way, giving you an opportunity to take a walk in the Roman countryside, explore the underground Catacombs, and examine the masterful construction of Rome's remaining ancient aqueducts. ...

Discover imperial and early Christian Rome by peeling back layers and millenniums of history as you descend into the Eternal city's underground burial chambers, its long winding catacombs and its crypts: Skip the line private exclusive viewing of the Capuchin Crypt; Entrance tickets to the San Domitilla Catacombs and to the church and undergrounds of San Clemente ...

Enjoy a fascinating tour of underground Rome with visits to the majestic San Clemente Church and its extraordinary remains, the Appian Way and either the San Sebastian or San Domitilla Catacombs. ...

Regina Viarum -- Queen of the Roads -- this is what the Ancient Romans called the Appian Way. Built in 312 BC, it was the first Roman road to be named after the magistrate that was responsible for its construction. It was adorned with sumptuous villas and monumental tombs belonging to important Roman families. Today, the first few miles are part of a fascinating archaeological park that maintains the romantic atmosphere of its past, and we will visit all the major sights, some hidden ones, and a catacomb complex... ...

Your three-hour afternoon guided tour of Christian Rome begins with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on the Esquiline Hill, where your guide will show you some of the treasures inside. You'll then see the Holy Staircase and make an inside visit of the Basilica of St John in Lateran, the cathedral of Rome.

Next, you'll proceed along the ancient Appian Way, passing the Chapel of Domine Quo Vadis before arriving at the Catacombs, the ancient underground cemeteries and hiding places of the Christians. A visit will be made to either the Catacombs of San Callisto, Santa Domitilla or San Sebastiano, depending on seasonal conditions. The tour ends with a spectacular view of the Baths of Emperor Caracalla... ...

The Jewish Catacombs of Vigna Randanini were discovered in the 19th century on the Appian way. They are one of seven known complexes utilized for Jewish burials. Today they are closed to the public and may be visited only with special permission. These catacombs, like their Christian and pagan counterparts, are a series of underground burial galleries with tombs carved into the soft volcanic stone of the area. The deceased were interred in painted loculi, cubicula, and kokhim. The presence of the kokhim set these catacombs apart from Rome's pagan and Christian catacombs. They were deep chambers in which the deceased would be buried perpendicular to the wall. The openings were sealed with marble epitaphs. The Vigna Randanini complex is also novel for wide corridors, its predominance of Latin and Greek inscriptions and absence of Hebrew and Aramaic... ...

Every Wednesday morning that the Pope is in residence in Rome, he addresses and blesses his many international visitors: in Piazza San Pietro on warmer days and inside the Sala Nervi during the winter. Join other pilgrims to see and hear the leader of the Catholic Church. Catholic or not, you'll find a Papal Audience a very special and memorable experience... ...

You'll begin this special day with a relaxing coach tour across Rome. Your city tour includes a live commentary and offers a brief introduction to Rome as you travel by bus to the Vatican City. Highlights en route include Piazza della Repubblica, following the ancient Aurelian Walls, the famous Villa Borghese gardens and the northern gate of Rome leading into Piazza del Popolo, where you will glimpse an Egyptian obelisk dating back to the time of Ramses II. Upon arrival at St Peter's Square you will pass the impressive Castel Sant'Angelo, the ancient tomb of Emperor Hadrian. The audience takes place in either St Peter's Square, St Peter's Basilica or the Audience Hall, depending on seasonal conditions and the number of pilgrims visiting on each particular day. Your guide will provide details of when and where to meet the bus at the end of the Papal Audience... ...

Highlights of your Papal Audience include a visit to these famous attractions: Piazza dell'Esquilino, Republic Square, the Mermaids Fountain, Villa Borghese, Castel St. Angelo, and St. Peter's Square. We'll also have a wonderful drive alongside the Tiber River. At the end of the Audience, clients are taken back to their hotels... ...

Take this special excursion to receive a Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo in the summer months only. Availability is limited, so don't miss the opportunity to leave the busy Italian capital to spend time with the Pope at his summer residence at Castelgandolfo. Leaving Rome, you will pass the enormous ruins of the Terme di Caracalla before taking the ancient Appian Way and passing the Chapel of Domine Quo Vadis.

Your tour will then proceed through the hills to the south of Rome. The area known as the 'Colli Albani' is home to many picturesque villages such as Frascati, Nemi, Genzano and Ariccia, and the splendid Villa Aldobrandini.

The Pope's summer residence is very near the volcanic lake of Albano. The Papal Blessing takes place in the square facing the Papal Palace of Castelgandolfo... ...

Escape Rome's crowds to explore parts of the historic center that most tourists don't get to visit. You'll enjoy a leisurely stroll through the fascinating Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere area, Rome's more traditional districts, accompanied by your knowledgeable guide.

Your guided tour of Rome's little-known jewels Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto starts at Largo Argentina and the Senate House, where Julius Caesar was murdered. Your tour concludes three hours later at lovely Campo de'Fiori, the site of executions during the Inquisition and today one of Rome's liveliest piazzas.

On this entertaining and enlightening walking tour you will get a chance to see parts of the ancient city hidden below the modern street level. Rome certainly wasn't built in a day, so you'll see other periods in between, from Medieval to Renaissance and Baroque.

Your Rome-ophile guide will share their enthusiasm for these hidden parts of the city, entertaining you with the legends and secrets of Rome's most authentic neighborhoods and their cafés, synagogues and churches. You'll broaden your experience of Rome with a visit to areas most tourists don't visit, and be able to ask questions right on the spot about their history and significance.

All tour guides are native English-speakers or Roman archaeologists, hold university degrees in teaching and the humanities, and adhere to the highest standards of education...< ...

This walk looks at two neighborhoods of Rome that have traditionally been home to cultures outside of the power-wielding majority: the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere.

Our walk covers the Ghetto itself and the history of the Jewish community in Rome (the oldest in Europe). When possible we will visit the Synagogue and its museum.

We also visit such notable sites within the Ghetto as Portico d'Ottavia, Piazza Mattei, and the kosher restaurants and Jewish-owned businesses that give the area its character today.

We will cross to the Tiber Island, which, according to some theories, may be where the first activity of Rome as a city took place. We will spend some time discussing the river and some of the noteworthy monuments in the vicinity include the remains of the Ponte Rotto and the travertine "prow of Aeneas' ship" embedded into the island. ...

Enlist the services of a specific docent in the Context Travel network for a customized, private tour of whatever it is in Rome you would like to explore—Jewish or otherwise. Tours can last from an orientation walk of 2–3 hours to hiring a private guide for three days. Context docents in Rome include archaeologists and philosophers, Byzantine scholars and art historians... ...