Private Tour: Christian Rome

Sightseeing  :  Italy  :  Latium And Rome  :  Rome  :  Private Sightseeing Tours

Dig deep into Rome's rich history with this private 6-hour guided tour of Christian Rome. Led by a knowledgeable driver-guide, get an insider's view of the Eternal City and its Christian history. Stops include the Basilica of Sant Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. And then go underground by checking out the intriguing catacombs, an early Christian burial spot just outside of the city.In the year 313, as Roman Emperor Constantine was preparing for a huge battle, one in which he was up against a much bigger army, a sign appeared in the sky. Constantine looked up and saw a flaming cross accompanied by the phrase in Latin, “In hoc signo vinces” (“By this sign, conquer”). He then led his army into battle and won. And thus begins an important phase in Christian Rome: it then became an official religion of the Roman Empire. This 6-hour private guided tour of Christian Rome is an excellent way to learn the history of the faith and the city. After getting picked up at your hotel and meeting your guide, learn about the early history of the Church in Rome and how the city was a major influence on Christianity today. Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a cavernous 5th-century church that today has a Baroque appearance. Stroll around the huge church with your guide learning about the history of the building and then head to San Giovanni in Laterano, otherwise known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the historic and official church of the pope. Go inside and walk around and then head next door to the Lateran Palace where the supposed steps of Pontius Pilate, known from the Biblical account of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, exist. Today pilgrims ascend the 28 steps on their knees. At the top of the steps is the Holy of Holies, otherwise known as the Sancta Sanctorum, the erstwhile resting Place for some of the most legendary relics in Church history: a chunk of the table that held the Last Supper, the heads of Saints Peter and Paul and the Holy Foreskin, the only piece of flesh Christ could have conceivably left on Earth, said to have been given to Pope Leo III by Charles the Great in 800 AD. After that, head to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem where you'll find even more relics. These were relics brought back from the Holy Land by St. Helena, mother of Constantine, after she went on a sanctified shopping spree. In a side chapel, look at a piece of the True Cross, a thorn from Christ's crown of thorns, the finger of (doubting) St. Thomas, and many other curios. Visit next St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the largest church's on the planet, and the burial ground of St. Paul, and then head to the Catacombs, located just outside of the city. Because of the Roman taboo of dead bodies, all cemeteries were outside the walls. Thus, these vast underground catacombs are a fun wander. Many of the early holy relics were taken from the catacombs as many of the 'inhabitants' were all early Christian martyrs who gave their lives for the 'new' faith. Take a tour of the catacombs, and don't miss the famed Appian Way, an early Roman road, and then get dropped off back at your hotel.