Major Basilicas of Rome

The basilicas are ancient structures that the Roman Empire would use for a variety of civil purposes. Nowadays, they are churches dedicated to Catholic saints. The most famous of these in Rome include the Basilicas of Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, and Saint Paul. Each of these marvelous structures resides in an unusual state of ownership: though the buildings are in Italy and technically not within the Vatican City, they are owned and managed by the Vatican. This tour will show you each of these divine locations, and your professional guide will provide you with a delightful history of the buildings and point out their elegant architectural details. Bring your tickets to explore the museums!

The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran stands as the oldest Christian basilica in the entirety of Europe. It is named for Saint John the Baptist and is the only building with the noble title of “archbasilica”. It serves as the official seat of the pope, though the pope does not reside there.

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, also called the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Another name for this major papal basilica is Dedicatio Sanctae Mariae ad Nives, “Dedication of Saint Mary of the Snows”, which references a story claiming that the church was built upon the site of a thick snowfall in the middle of the Italian summer.

Like Saint John Lateran and Saint Mary Major, The Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas. This church was built on top of the burial place of Saint Paul of Tarsus.