Rome
The See of Peter and the four Papal Basilicas
Why this destination matters
Rome is the See of Peter. Saints Peter and Paul were martyred here around 64-67 AD - Peter crucified upside down on the Vatican Hill, Paul beheaded at Tre Fontane on the Ostian Way. Their tombs lie beneath Saint Peter's Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls respectively.
Four Papal Basilicas hold pre-eminent rank: Saint Peter's (Vatican), Saint John Lateran (the cathedral of Rome and 'mother and head of all churches'), Santa Maria Maggiore (consecrated immediately after the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD), and Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo, 1508-12 ceiling and 1536-41 Last Judgment) are the world's leading Renaissance art collection. The catacombs (San Callisto, Domitilla, Priscilla, San Sebastiano) preserve the earliest extant Christian art and the Crypt of the Popes.
The 2025 Jubilee Year ended on 6 January 2026. The Church now marks 2026 as the Year of Saint Francis, the 800th anniversary of his death (1226). Looking ahead, 2033 will be the bimillennial of the Redemption.
Key sites to visit
Saint Peter's Basilica and Tomb of Peter
Bernini's colonnade and Baldachin, Michelangelo's Pieta and Dome, Tomb of Peter under the high altar. The Scavi tour (necropolis under the basilica) by reservation scavi@fsp.va.
Saint John Lateran
The cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, 'mother and head of all churches'. Across the square: the Scala Sancta (28 marble steps from Pilate's praetorium, climbed on the knees).
Santa Maria Maggiore
Consecrated immediately after the Council of Ephesus (431). 5th-century triumphal arch mosaics; Salus Populi Romani icon; Pope Francis's tomb (2025).
Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Above the tomb of Saint Paul. Roundel portraits of every pope, with empty roundels remaining.
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling (1508-12) and Last Judgment (1536-41). Raphael Rooms, Pio-Clementine antiquities and Egyptian Museum.
Catacombs of San Callisto
Crypt of the Popes - 16 popes buried in a single chamber from the 3rd century.
Catacombs of Domitilla
Largest of Rome's catacombs - 17 km of galleries on four levels.
Catacombs of Priscilla
Earliest known Marian fresco (3rd century) and the Greek Chapel frescoes.
Scala Sancta
Holy Stairs - 28 marble steps from the praetorium of Pilate, climbed on the knees. Across the square from Saint John Lateran.
Best time to visit
April-June and September-October. Avoid the August Roman heat (32-38 degrees C, many businesses closed).
Key feast days
- 29 June - Saints Peter and Paul (city patronal feast, public holiday in Rome)
- 5 August - Dedication of Santa Maria Maggiore
- 9 November - Dedication of Saint John Lateran
- 18 November - Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul
- 4 October - Saint Francis (Year of Saint Francis 2026)
How to get there
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the main international airport, 32 km from the centre via the Leonardo Express train (32 minutes). Ciampino (CIA) is the low-cost hub, served by Terravision bus.
Where to stay
Prati for proximity to the Vatican (Hearth, Black Hotel, Atlante Star). Centro Storico for ancient Rome (Hotel Smeraldo, Albergo del Senato). Trastevere for atmosphere. Near Santa Maria Maggiore - Hotel Sina Bernini.
Tours and experiences
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel skip-the-line tours (50-80 EUR); Saint Peter's dome climb (10 EUR); Scavi tour by reservation (13 EUR, book months ahead); catacombs by metro plus shuttle. Multi-day Christian Rome itineraries (4 Papal Basilicas in a day, with the Catacombs of San Callisto).
Practical information
- Hours
- Saint Peter's free 07:00-19:10 (closes for liturgies). Vatican Museums Mon-Sat 08:00-20:00, last Sun of month free 09:00-14:00 (very crowded). Basilicas open 07:00-19:00 most days.
- Fees
- Saint Peter's free; dome climb 10 EUR. Vatican Museums ~20 EUR (book online). Catacombs ~10 EUR each. Scavi tour 13 EUR by booking only (scavi@fsp.va).
- Dress code
- Strict at Saint Peter's, Vatican Museums and all basilicas - shoulders and knees covered for both men and women, no flip-flops.
- Accessibility
- Saint Peter's largely accessible; Vatican Museums fully accessible. Catacombs limited (steep narrow stairs).
Pilgrim tips
đĄ Practical advice for pilgrims
- Book the Vatican Scavi Tour (the necropolis under Saint Peter's, including the verified Tomb of Saint Peter) 3-6 months ahead via scavi@fsp.va â only 250 visitors per day, only by guided tour, only ages 15+. The most important hidden Catholic pilgrimage site in Rome.
- Book your Vatican Museums tickets online at museivaticani.va to skip the snaking queue (which can reach 3 hours in summer). Early-morning entry (07:30) is bookable for a premium and is the only way to experience the Sistine Chapel without crowds.
- Pope Francis is buried at Santa Maria Maggiore (his Marian basilica, which he visited 126 times) â the first pope in over a century buried outside the Vatican. The tomb in the side chapel near the Salus Populi Romani icon is open to visitors during basilica hours.
- The 'Seven Pilgrim Churches' circuit (devised by Saint Philip Neri in the 16th century) covers the four Papal Basilicas (Saint Peter's, Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul Outside the Walls) plus Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura and San Sebastiano Fuori le Mura. The full circuit on foot takes 2 full days.
- Saint John Lateran (not Saint Peter's) is the cathedral of Rome and the seat of the Pope as Bishop of Rome. Visit early on a weekday to attend the morning Mass at the high altar â the chair (cathedra) above is the Bishop of Rome's actual chair.
- The Vatican Necropolis (the Scavi) preserves the 1st-2nd century cemetery where Peter was buried after his crucifixion under Nero (64 AD). Pope Pius XII authorised the excavation in 1939; the bones identified as Peter's were confirmed by Pope Paul VI in 1968 â making this the most archaeologically secure apostolic tomb anywhere.
- The Catacombs of Rome (Domitilla, Priscilla, San Callisto, San Sebastiano) are visited by guided tour only. Of the open catacombs, Domitilla has the best-preserved 2nd-3rd century Christian art including the earliest known image of the Good Shepherd.
Did you know?
âšī¸ Fascinating facts
- Saint Peter and Saint Paul were both martyred at Rome under Nero in 64-67 AD â Peter crucified upside-down on the Vatican Hill, Paul beheaded on the Via Ostiense (the Tre Fontane abbey marks the traditional spot). Their tombs are both authenticated by modern archaeology and form the dual foundation of the Roman See.
- The Vatican Necropolis runs directly under Saint Peter's Basilica â the high altar of the basilica is positioned precisely above Peter's tomb. Successive popes have built progressively larger basilicas around the same fixed point for 1,700 years.
- The Lateran Basilica (San Giovanni in Laterano) is older than Saint Peter's, founded by Constantine in 324 AD as the first public church in Rome. For nearly a thousand years it was the Pope's principal residence and cathedral; the Vatican only became the papal seat after the Avignon papacy's return in 1377.
- Pope Leo XIV (elected 8 May 2025) is the first American-born pope and the first Augustinian pope. He is also the first pope to have a doctorate in mathematics (Villanova University). His 28 November 2025 Iznik visit for the 1700th anniversary of Nicaea was his first foreign trip.
- The Holy Door (Porta Santa) at Saint Peter's is opened only during Jubilee years. The 2025 Holy Year (officially closing 6 January 2026) was the most recent; the next will be 2050. Pilgrims who pass through the Holy Door during a Jubilee receive plenary indulgence under standard conditions.
Biblical references
- Acts 28:14-16 â âAnd so we went toward Rome... we came to Rome.â
- Romans â âPaul's letter to the Romans, dispatched from Corinth before his arrival.â
- 2 Timothy 4:6 â âI am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.â
Suggested reading before you go
| Title / Reference | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The Vatican: A History (Michael Walsh) | Accessible single-volume history of the papacy and the Vatican as both spiritual and political institution. Strong on the basilica complex. |
| Rome: A Cultural History (Christopher Hibbert) | Cultural and architectural history of the city. The supreme one-volume Rome companion for the pilgrim with a serious interest. |
| Acts 28 and the Pauline letters from Rome (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 2 Timothy) | Paul's 60-67 AD Roman captivity and the letters he wrote from it. Read at the Tre Fontane abbey or Saint Paul Outside the Walls. |
Featured on these routes
- Footsteps of Saint Paul â Tarsus to Rome - the missionary journeys of the Apostle
- Marian Pilgrimage â Ephesus, Nazareth, Rome - the great Marian shrines
Frequently asked questions
Names in other languages
| Italian | Roma |
|---|---|
| German | Rom |
| Russian | Rim |
| French | Rome |
| Greek | Romi |
| Arabic | Ruma |