ChristianRome

5 nights. Arrival /departure: Rome
Rome – the cradle of Christianity - counts almost 300 churches and a number of basilicas. The city attracts a great
number of visitors and pilgrims. Each corner is adorned with piazzas, churches, masterpieces and historical sites.
This tour combines the visit of some of the most significant churches in Rome, including the four most important
basilicas – St. Peter’s, Santa Maria Maggiore,San Paolo fuori le mura and San Giovanni in Laterano.
Depending on the weekdays, e tour Papal Audience or the Angelus can be added to the programme (on
Wednesdays or on Sundays respectively).
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at the airport of Rome, transfer to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: The Basilicas of Rome
On Day 3, visit of some of the main basilicas of Rome.
First, you cannot miss San Giovanni in Laterano (St
John in the Lateran), an important church founded
by Constantine as the first Christian Basilica (which
also served as a model for Christian churches). The
church is also believed to be the cathedral of Rome
(as St Peter’s actually belongs to the Vatican).
(Possibility to visit its baptistery or the cloister)
Then see the Scala Santa (the Holy Stairs) – 28 steps,
the staircase leading to Pontius Pilates’ home, thus
believed to be the stairs Jesus walked to meet him,
and later brought to Rome. At the top of the stairs
the chapel Sanctra Sanctorum is located.
Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s patriarchal
basilicas and the largest Catholic Marian church in
Rome. The church also has an important
architectural value as it combines baroque and
Romanesque elements, and ancient mosaics. The
church also contains the less known 16th century
Sixtine Chapel, which contains the tombs f Pius Sixtus
V and Pius V.
After lunch, reach the Basilica St Paul’s Outside the
Walls (San Paolo fuori le mura). It is the burial place
of St Paul the Apostle. After his death, his followers
erected a shrine over his grave; the original shrine
was then demolished and a larger church was then
built. The church also guards various notable relics
(among which, St Paul’s prison chains, exposed
on special days).
Day 3: The Baroque Rome and its churches
In the morning, transfer to the city centre and join
your local guide for a delightful stroll through the
centre to admire the Borromini’s and Bernini’s legacy
– the Baroque palazzi, the squares and fountains,
such as the Piazza Spagna, with its Trinità dei monti
stairs - one of the most famous Piazzas in Rome. See
the jewel of Rome – the Trevi Fountain, the
Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman
Buildings, and which the 7 century has been used as
Mistral Incoming Italia (Mistral Tour Internazionale) - Lungo Dora Colletta, 67 – 10153 Torino (Italy)
Tel.+39 (0)11 2293208 – E-mail: incoming@italia.mistral.it
www.mistralincoming.it

a church dedicated to St Mary and the Martyrs. It is
also a burial place of famous personalities such as
Raphael.
During the stroll through the Baroque city centre, if
possibile, you may enter in some of the most notable
churches such as Sant’Agnese in Agone Church,
Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, Sant’Andrea al Quirinale and
San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane.
.
Day 4: The catacombs and Castel Gandolfo
Some of the catacombs are open to the public – the
Catacombs of Priscilla, St. Agnes, St. Callixtus, St.
Sebastian and Domitilla. We suggest visiting the well
preserved Catacombs of Domitilla, spread over 17
km of underground caves of tufa stone (not all of
them are accessible), with about 150 000 burials. The
Catacombs illustrate the Christian Community in
Imperial Rome in the time period between the 2 and
9 centuries. These catacombs are the only ones that
still contain an underground basilica that can be
visited.
Proceed to The Albani Hills, and area of volcanic lakes
and pretty villages near Rome. Visit Castel Gandolfo,
where the Pope’s summer residence is located (not
open to public).
To finish the tour, we suggest dinner at a typical
trattoria (with the fresh Frascati wine of the region).
Day 5: Departure
Breakfast and transfer to the airport.
The included services :
- 4 nights in Rome (a central or semi central hotel – upon
wish)
- a HD guided tour the Vatican and St Peter’s
- visit of the St Peter’s Basilica (skip the line)
- a FD guided tour the Basilicas of Rome
- a FD guided tour the Baroque piazzas and churches
- a FD visit the Christian Catacombs and Castel Gandolfo
- entrance into the Domitilla Catacombs
- bus rent throughout the whole tour if necessary
Means and other services will be added upon
request
Mistral Incoming Italia (Mistral Tour Internazionale) - Lungo Dora Colletta, 67 – 10153 Torino (Italy)
Tel.+39 (0)11 2293208 – E-mail: incoming@italia.mistral.it
www.mistralincoming.it