Location: Centro
Top Things to do in Centro
Things to do in Rome, Lazio: The Best Sacred & Religious Sites
Rome wasn't built in a day--and you'll need much more than a day to take in this timeless city. The city is a real-life collage of piazzas, open-air markets, and astonishing historic sites. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, contemplate the Colosseum and the Pantheon, and sample a perfect espresso or gelato before spending an afternoon shopping at the Campo de’Fiori or Via Veneto. Enjoy some of the most memorable meals of your life here, too, from fresh pasta to succulent fried artichokes or a tender oxtail stew.
Restaurants in Rome
1. Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Located on the fringe of the Forum, this small church incorporates the pagan Temple of Romulus and features a magnificent sixth-century mosaic representing the Second Coming.
Reviewed By lady_britts - Bexley, United Kingdom
We literally stumbled across this incredible church on our walk from our hotel to the Colosseum and I'm so grateful that we did as it is absolutely stunning. Dating back to the 4th century and becoming a church is 527AD & contains greatly restored early examples of Christian art, especially in its mosaics. With a pretty courtyard with a fountain and fish, this lovely & serene church and its grounds are worth visiting & absorbing the history and appreciating your surroundings. If only the walls could talk!
2. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,079 reviews
One of seven pilgrimage basilicas in the world, this church was founded in 432 AD and is where the famous architect Bernini is buried.
Reviewed By 282LisaH - Melbourne, Australia
We were staying in Trastevere with an air B and B.we walked around the cobbled lanes and came across piazza Santa Maria and this beautiful church which I had read about it is amazing and inspires serene meditation ????♀️ . The frescoes and building are beautiful and it sits in the piazza . Absolutely stunning and to think it started building in the 2nd century
3. Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,337 reviews
This Renaissance church contains Baroque additions along with various 18th- and 19th-century monuments, which add to the beauty of this structure.
Reviewed By Margo7850p
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo is a place not to be missed due to its location on the magnificent Piazza del Popolo and also due of the huge works of art of high value that are present there. The church comes from a small chapel from the 11th century, built at the expense of the Roman people, from which the name comes. Then it was completely rebuilt in the 15th century . In the mid-seventeenth century, Gianlorenzo Bernini gave it a distinct Baroque impression. The interior has the shape of a basilica with three naves, a transept and a semicircular apse, with four side chapels on each side and two important chapels on the left side of the main altar. Inside the church you can find a lot of works of art, primarily at the Cerasi Chapel the works of two fundamental painters of contemporary artistic history, Annibale Caracci with the painting of the altar of the "Assumption of the Virgin", and on the sides two wonderful paintings of Caravaggio, "Crucifixion of Saint Peter" and "Conversion of Saint Paul ". It is such a beautiful church. Definitely worth a visit.
4. Santa Pudenziana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 103 reviews
One of the first parish churches in Rome, this structure's chapel has been dated back to 140 AD, then converted to a regular church after tolerance was granted to Christians in the early fourth century.
Reviewed By stevedurbano - Willcox, United States
There are many historic and spiritually important churches in Rome. This church, however, should be on the top five to visit for anyone considering a trip to Rome. You are immediately made aware of the passage of time when you first see it- the church sits about 20 feet below street level (the street levels rise slowly due to debris, repairs, etc). An excellent source for information about this and other churches in Rome is the "Churches of Rome Wiki". Suffice it to say that the mosaics and other artwork are astonishing- to see them is truly moving. I'm sure most of you have heard the "Dutch Jesus" about the depiction of Jesus, namely that the commonly accepted image was invented in the middle ages by Dutch painters. Although I'm sure the image in the apse mosaic is Romanized (even having Him in Roman dress) it is fascinating that the face is very close to today's commonly accepted image. Do not miss this church if you have an opportunity to see it.
5. Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 407 reviews
This Church was constructed between 817 and 824 AD, on the site of an earlier fifth-century building, and features a grand courtyard, garden, twelfth-century bell tower and a gothic tabernacle by Arnolfo di Cambio.
Reviewed By Fatherandson
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is one of Rome's most beautiful churches. Perhaps the main attraction is Pietro Cavallini's Last Judgment fresco, often cited as the masterpiece of the artist who, with Giotto, was a prominent Late Gothic artist and a forerunner of the early Renaissance. To see the fresco, you must ring the doorbell to the left of the church's entrance. There you will pay two euros and then enter an elevator that takes you to the second floor, The fresco is located at the rear of the nun's choir. During our visit we were the only ones there. The church also has some subterranean archaeological remains, one euro entrance, which were not particularly worthwhile.
6. Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,861 reviews
Reviewed By JonathonGreen
Little remains of original 13th century church.Michelangelo sculpture inside.Superb 15th century frescoes including some by Lippi and the tomb of Pope Paul the 4th.Body of St Catherine of Siena (minus the head) lies under the high alter.
7. Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 705 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
One of the most wonderful basilicas in Rome. Located near Piazza del Campidoglio, at the top of the spectacular 124 marble steps. Plates comes from various ancient buildings. It was built in the 13th century, probably on the site of the ancient temple of Juno. The church was built by Franciscans , probably according to the design of Arnolfo di Cambio. In 1348, on the initiative of Cola di Rienzi , a staircase was added as a votive offering of thanks to the Mother of God for stopping the plague epidemic . The stairs were designed by Lorenzo di Simone di Andreozzo . The interior is an absolute spiritual feast. However, the temple is known primarily from Santo Bambino - the fifteenth-century figurine of the Baby Jesus. The figurine was reportedly stolen on February 1, 1994, and replaced by a copy.
8. Santa Maria della Pace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 164 reviews
Reviewed By NewYorkBuckwheat - Huntington, United States
This church is right off the Piazza Navona. It has art work from several Renaissance masters that you wouldn’t expect in a church that is off the main radar of people visiting Rome. If your in Rome on Sunday, mass is lovely here in an intimate setting. Worth a visit.
9. Basilica di Santa Sabina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 286 reviews
Reviewed By lukaszwenda - London, United Kingdom
Very historical church on the Aventino Hill. It is located in a quiet area, far away from the City Centre. That allows you to concentrate and stay calm far away from tourists. Check on the characteristic signage on the marble floor. Very old and original representing the Dominicans and its church.
10. Museo Ebraico di Roma
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 629 reviews
Reviewed By Traveler_Eyal - Tel Aviv, Israel
Museo Ebraico di Roma - The Jewish Museum of Rome is a very interesting museum, especially for those attracted to the Jewish heritage in Rome, which is more than 2000 years old. The tour starts with a guide taking you through the magnificent synagogue and continues independently (with an audio guide) in the small buy highly educational museum. We spent 90 minutes there all in all and enjoyed every minute.
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