Churches in Rome

Rome is the home of the center of Roman Catholicism, the Vatican City. Although the Vatican is a separate and independent country today, Rome still remains popular for its many churches spread throughout the city. These churches date back from centuries ago and the structures are amazingly preserved over time.

Sistine Chapel

Commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel was built between 1473 and 1481 by Giovanni di Dolce and designed by among the most famous artists of that time, Michaelangelo and Gina Lorenzo Bernini. Where Sistine Chapel stands today, the Capella Maggiore stood before… Read more…

St. Peter’s Basilica

Emperor Constantine “The Great” commissioned the building of St. Peter’s Basilica. Since its construction in 324, the basilica grew old and worn and several attempts have been made to restore it but it was to no avail. Finally in 1506, it was decided that the old basilica could no longer be saved, hence the construction of the new basilica (as what we know today) began… Read more…

St. John Lateran Basilica

One of the oldest and most important churches in Rome is the St. John Lateran Basilica. It is also one of the seven pilgrimage churches. On its façade there’s an inscription that says Christo Salvatori which means “Christ the Savior”. Although located outside Vatican grounds, it is still considered as a property of the Holy See… Read more…

Basilica San Clemente

A complex of buildings makes up the Basilica San Clemente. It is a 12th century church that was dedicated to Pope Clement I. Before being a grand public basilica by the 6th century, it was originally a private home where clandestine Christian worship were held… Read more…

Church Frisians
The Church of Saints Michael and Magnus, is more popularly known simply as Church Frisians. Built in 1141, Church Frisians is located at Janiculus, one of the hills of Rome, just adjacent to St. Peter’s Square. In the 16th century, all the buildings at the bottom of the hill were demolished to make way for the St. Peter’s Square… Read more…

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

This basilica is one of the four papal churches and also among the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome. The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore earned its title because of its grandeur not only in size but in design as well. Although outside the Vatican grounds, it is owned by the Holy See… Read more…

Church of St. Julian of the Flemings
If the French have the Trinita dei Monti and the Dutch have the Church Frisians, the Belgian also have their own church in Rome. St. Julian of the Flemings was said to have been built when the Flanders converted into Christianity. This was during the Gregory II’s pontificate… Read more…

Santa Maria dell’Anima

In English, this German church means Our Lady of the Soul. Founded in 1350 by the couple Johannes and Katharina Peters of Dordrecht, the church served not only as a place of worship but also as a hospital and refuge center for German pilgrims in Rome… Read more…

Abbazia delle Tre Fontane
Abbey of Saints Vincent and Anastasius, or simply the Fontane Abbey, is currently managed by the Trappist Fathers of the Cistercian Order. Three different churches belong to this monastery and is known for raising lambs. The lambs are blessed and there wools are used for weaving the pallia, a vestment worn by archbishops… Read more…

Church of the Gesù (Il Gesù Santissimo Nome di Gesù)
A church built at the end of the 16th century, Church of the Gesù is translated in Dutch as the “most holy name of Jesus”. The construction started in 1568 and it was commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese…