Relic hunter

This is an ideal tour for those who want to visit the most important religious sights of Rome.

• Relics of the passion of Christ
• Cathedral of Rome
• Holy Stairs
• Cradle of Jesus
• Early Christian mosaics in St. Mary Major
• Pauline chapel with the image of the Virgin Mary
• Tomb of St. Paul

Start: Time of the tour will be decided upon booking

Tour lasts: 5 hours

Meeting point: In front of the entrance of Basilica of Holy Cross in Jerusalem. Upon request the guide can meet you at the hotel.

Ticktes: Two public transportation tickets 3 euros per person.

Important information: On this tour, you visit sacred areas where the following dress codeis required: covered shoulders(a scarf over the shoulders is enough) and knee long skirts or shorts. Any type of shoes is fine as long as they’re comfortable there’s lots of walking on the tour.

This tour starts at the basilica of the Holy cross in Jerusalem, that was built on the sight of the palace of Helena the mother of Constantine. In year 323 she did a pilgrimage to the holy land where miraculously she found the relics of the passion of Jesus – the cross, the nails and some thorns from the crown. These very important objects are still on display for the faithful inside this beautiful basilica.

A few minutes walk from here is the Cathedral of Rome Archbasilica St. John in the Lateran that for over 1000 years was the seat of the papacy. The church was constructed under the emperor Constantine but over the centuries it has been largely rebuilt assuming a richly baroque aspect.

Nearby there are the Holy stairs brought from Jerusalem by Constantine’s mother St. Helena. Christian tradition tells us that these were the stairs that Jesus walked to the trial under Pontius Pilate.

Next up there’s the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the biggest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Spectacular mosaic ornate it’s walls and the main altar hides the relic of the cradle of Christ where his mother was rocking him to sleep.

A few subway stops from here is the basilica of St. Paulo fuori le mura. Built on the tomb of St. Paul for centuries it was the biggest church in the world and still today it’s the destination of pilgrims from all over the world who wants to pay a tribute to the apostles to the Gentiles.

Holy cross in Jerusalem, St. John in the Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Paul outside the walls.