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Optional Things to See on
Your Own
Catholic Sites
 The
Sistine Chapel
"Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable
idea of what one man is capable of achieving." - Goethe, 1787
in Rome
The Holy Steps
Behind the Vatican
Santa Maria Maggiore - The Basilica of St. Mary Major
Close to our hotel is St. Mary Major, so you can have access to
this any time. It is one of the four main basilicas in Rome, and
is the largest church in the world dedicated to Our Lady. Its name
means that it is Rome's principal church dedicated to the Mother
of God. Legends say that the church was built in 352 B.C. after
an appearance by the Blessed Virgin. The legend further claims that
the outline of the church was laid by a miraculous snowfall in August.
Santa Maria d'Aracoeli--Our Lady at the Heavenly Altar (The
city church of Rome)
A 4th century legend in two versions claims that the Blessed Virgin
appeared to the emperor Augustus at this site on the northern side
of the Capitol hill, or alternatively, that the birth of the Son
of God was foretold to the emperor by an oracle. In the interior
are a coffered Renaissance ceiling and a mosaic of the Virgin over
the altar in the Byzantine style. The church is known for its Bufalini
Chapel, a masterpiece by Pinturicchio, who frescoed it with scenes
illustrating the life and death of St. Bernardino of Siena. He also
depicted St. Francis receiving the stigmata. These frescoes are
a high point in early Renaissance Roman painting.
Piazza di Spagna--Spanish Steps
This is perhaps the most charming square in the city. Its unique
shape is reminiscent of a butterfly. The square's name comes from
the fact that the Spanish Embassy stood in the square in the 17th
century. The square is permanently full of tourists, and as far
back as 1600 it was the favorite place for visitors to Rome from
all over the world. The steps that connect the Church of Trinità
dei Monti to Piazza di Spagna are amazing, a mixture of curves,
straight line and terraces, where it is possible to see the house
of poets such as Keats and Shelley.
Basilica Patriarchale di S. Lorenzo Fuori le Mura--The Basilica
of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls
The Basilica is also one of the seven traditional pilgrimage churches
in Rome. In 303, Emperor Constantine honored the Roman deacon martyr
St. Lawrence of Rome by building a large basilica near the saint's
tomb. The basilica was flanked by the church of Pope Pelagius II,
(579-590), built directly over that martyr's tomb, which also contained
the remains of the martyr St. Stephen. The present structure was
built by Pope Honorious III (1216-1227). A bombing in 1943 destroyed
a large part of the church, but it was rebuilt using the original
stones. The basilica contains the tomb of Blessed Pope Pius IX.
San Luigi dei Francesi--Church of St. Louis of France
The site was full of remains of Roman buildings, including the Baths
of Agrippa and the Baths of Nero. In the early 16th century, the
Medici family took over, and Cardinal Giulio de Medici, later Pope
Clement VII, commissioned a church for the French community here
in 1518. Building was halted when Rome was sacked in 1527, and it
was finally completed in 1589. The fifth chapel on the left was
decorated by Caravaggio. The paintings depict three scenes from
the life of St Matthew: the Call of St Matthew, the Martyrdom of
St Matthew and Matthew and the Angel.
San Ignazio--Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola
The church of St. Ignatius of Loyola was built as the church of
the Roman College which was the work of St. Ignatius and founded
in 1551 as a "school of grammar, humanities and Christian doctrine,
free of charge." The church is erected on the spot where the
temple of Isis once stood in Imperial Rome, and its present facade
stands where the Acqua Vergine once flowed, and still runs beneath
the ground today. The church is entirely Baroque in style, and the
final important characteristic of St. Ignazio is that it is a superb
example of Baroque illusionism. When money ran out before a dome
could be built, the clever Jesuit artist Andrea Pozzo (1681-1701)
painted a fake dome over the altar. The trompe l'oeil perspective
is the biggest joke in Rome (the uninitiated standing underneath
never guess that the ceiling is really flat).
Church of Il Gesù -- The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus
This is the Jesuit Mother Church, and stands upon the site which
St. Ignatius chose for his headquarters, once he founded the Society
of Jesus. The church is ornamented in the Baroque style with frescoes
by "Il Baciccia," Giovanni Battista Gaulli. The church
also houses the relic of the arm of St. Francis Xavier, the first
Jesuit missionary saint.
Roman History and Culture
The Pantheon
Rome's 2000 year old monument, whose name means "to honor all
gods," is a must-see. The Pantheon was built by Marcus Vipsanius
Agrippus in 27 B.C., and houses the tombs of Rafael and several
Italian kings, and was consecrated as a church dedicated to Our
Lady and all the martyrs.
Campidoglio--The Capitol
The Capitol was the center of political power in ancient Rome. It
was also the center for the most important ceremonies, such as the
investiture of the consuls on January 1, and above all the Triumph.
The Capitol's importance has endured throughout the history of Rome.
This splendid square was conceived by Michelangelo, who also designed
the two palaces on the opposite sides of the square. It is reached
by the grand flight of steps known as the "Cordonata,"
built to a design by Michelangelo especially for the triumphal entry
of the Emperor Charles V in 1536.
Capitolin Museum
This museum, founded in 1471, houses findings and works of art that
tell the full history of Rome, from the antique sculptures and bas-reliefs
portraying the acts of the emperors to the paintings on show in
the Picture Gallery.
Campo dei Fiori
The Campo dei Fiore is a colorful outdoor fruit and vegetable market
that has been in business for 300 years. Its food stands are popular
with residents, and there are clothing stalls and souvenirs scattered
among the local wares. It is a colorful place for candid photos
and a good spot to pick up some refreshments until it closes at
noon.
Piazza Farnese
This square is home to the prototype for many princely palaces,
the imposing Palazzo Farnese, which was originally built for Cardinal
Alessandro Farnese (who became Pope Paul III in 1534). Michelangelo
had a plan for the Farnese gardens to be connected by a bridge to
the Farnese home in Trastevere, Villa Farnesina. The elegant arch
spanning Via Giulia belongs to this sadly unrealized scheme. The
palazzo was completed in 1589, on a less ambitious scale, by Giacomo
della Porta. It is now the home of the French Embassy.
Piazza del Popolo
This square is located at the top of the triangle that is formed
by three long streets: the central one is the famous Via del Corso.
At the center of the square there is an obelisk that was brought
to Rome by the Emperor Augustus after he conquered Egypt.
Piazza Navona
This piazza is a marvel of light and sculpture. It is exceptionally
long and owes its shape to the ruins that formed it, for under the
buildings that surround Piazza Navona are the remains of the Circus
Domitianus, Domitian's stadium -- a part of which can be seen if
you leave the piazza by the north exit and turn left. The piazza
marks the area for the races in the stadium. It features many fine
old buildings, a beautiful church and three stunning fountains.
The Piazza Venezia
This square was named in honor of the Republic of Venice that opened
up its embassy in this very square. Piazza Venezia was unfortunately
made famous when it became the stage for Mussolini's speeches that
he pronounced from the balcony of Palazzo Venezia, an imposing building
that dates back to the second half of the 15th century. The Vittoriano,
dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II, is another important building.
Fontana di Trevi--Trevi Fountain
The Fontana di Trevi is famous because the legend says that if you
throw a coin you will come back to Rome some day. It is without
doubt the most famous fountain in Rome. The imaginative concept,
the theatrical composition, the sober and imposing beauty of the
sculptured marble figures make it a true masterpiece both of sculpture
and of architecture. Pietro da Cortona and above all Bernini, who
began the undertaking, both had a hand in the project.
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