Attractions in San Giovanni - Termini - Colle Oppio - San Lorenzo (Rome)

Santa Maria Maggiore

Santa Maria Maggiore harmonizes a great variety of architectural styles: the naves date from the 15th Century, the bell-tower is medieval, the ceiling is from the Renaissance and the domes are Baroque. Here, one might say, the entire history of ecclesiastical architecture is united under one roof. The Capella Sforza is by Michelangelo. The finest fresco painters of the age took turns decorating the walls of this imposing edifice, and it is said that the magnificent ceiling was gilded with the first gold brought back from America by Christopher Columbus. Over the years certain details of the basilica have been destroyed, notably the mosaics that used to decorate the apse, which dates from 1200. The bell-tower was rebuilt in the 14th Century, to the original design, after being destroyed in an earthquake. Popes Sixtus V and Paul V are buried here.

Basilica di San Clemente

A visit to Basilica di San Clemente is a fascinating journey through time. From the upper basilica, which dates from the beginning of the 12th Century and whose apse boasts the mosaic The Triumph of the Cross, one passes into the 4th-century lower basilica, and, via a stairway, down to the roman constructions and to the mitreo, a 3rd-century temple dedicated to the God Mithra. Of particular interest are the frescoes in the chapel of St Catherine, painted between 1428 and 1431 by Masolino da Panicale, possibly with the collaboration of Masaccio.

Santo Stefano Rotondo al Celio

Founded in the 5th Century CE, this church stands on ancient ruins. Its shape is unique and was probably inspired by the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Throughout the centuries stucco work, marble, mosaics, courtyards and three great arches were added. A series of frescoes with chilling scenes featuring the martyrdom of many saints decorate the walls. Their purpose was to instruct novices leaving for missions, so they would know that they too could meet with the same fate. The Byzantine-style mosaics were commissioned under the papacy of Theodore and show St Primo and St Feliciano at the sides of a bejeweled cross.

Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, frequently used for state ceremonies, was founded in the mid-16th century inside the Diocletian Baths. It was built to designs by Michelangelo, who sought to minimise alterations to the original building, simply linking several different spaces and conserving the original walls and columns. A less respectful reconstruction was carried out, in honor of the holy year 1750 by Vanvitelli, who altered the angle of its positioning. Salvator Rosa and Armando Diaz are buried here. Amongst the works of art is a painting by Domenichino, to be found in the presbytery, The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. In the sacristy, Michelangelo's original designs are on show.

Santa Prassede

This church, dedicated to St Praxedes, contains one of the greatest expressions of medieval art in Rome. St Praxedes was martyred because, together with her sister Prudence, she collected the blood of the dead Christians with a sponge and poured it into a well. There is a porphyry slab in the center of the floor, which covers the well. The chapel of St Zenone is perhaps one of the most important Byzantine monuments, with its black marble columns and mosaics. In the chapel there is a room which houses the Flagellation column upon which Jesus was scourged; it was brought from Jerusalem in 1223. Also in this church is Bishop Santoni's funeral monument, by Bernini - his first work - which he completed at the age of 16. In the crypt is the sarcophagus containing relics of St Praxedes and St Prudence.

Santa Sabina

Many couples choose to get married in this magnificent church on the Aventine hill, built in the 5th Century under Pope Celestine I. Ever since St Domenic was welcomed in this church by Pope Honorius III in the 13th Century, he has been patron of the Domenicans. A lot of the medieval decorations were lost after the late 16th-century restorations, but successive restorers, above all the most recent, have tried to retrieve the original look of the church, even using specialized recovery equipment. Legend has it that in the cloister (1200), St Dominic planted Rome's first orange tree. The central doorway, which dates from the 5th Century, is a masterpiece of carpentry. It was carved from cypress wood and cedar with scenes from both the Old and the New Testaments. The rear of the façade conserves only part of the highly refined mosaic-style decoration in marble, paintings and stucco, which used to cover the entire church.

Colosseo

No visit to Rome is complete without seeing its magnificent Colosseum, a vast amphitheater with seating for 55,000 that was designed as a horse racing circuit and arena for animal fighting and gladiatorial battles. After its completion, spectacular 100-day celebrations were organized as part of the opening ceremony in 72 BC. Its name is believed to come from Nero's enormous statue of Colossus that stood close by.

Arco di Costantino

The Arch of Constantine is particularly interesting because it is like a jigsaw made up of other monuments. It was built using material from Trajan's Forum, from where the statues of the Dacian prisoners and the friezes representing Marcus Aurelius were also taken. The Arch was erected at the beginning of the fourth century in honor of Constantine, following the victory over Maxentius. It is considered one of the last great monuments to be constructed by the Romans. It stands beside the Colosseum in the huge square which in summer is the site for one of the events of the Estate Romana. A huge screen is hung from the arch, on which films and videos are projected.

Villa Celimontana

The lovely Villa Celimontana was originally a vineyard that was bought by the Mattei family to whom the new design of the gardens is owed. On the Celio hill, it has long attracted visitors with the beauty of the villa and the trees and ancient marbles in its gardens, including an obelisk from the times of Ramses II. It became the property of various foreigners until 1918 when it was confiscated by the Italian state. The last owner, Baron Riccardo Hoffmann, contributed to its expansion and added a small Neo-Gothic temple, which is now the home of the Italian Geographic Society. The villa is as beautiful as ever and a lovely spot to pass a few hours (or take in the talents of renowned musicians at the Jazz & Image festival).

Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

This church was founded by St Helen, mother of the Emperor Constantine, when she returned from the Holy Land with the remains of the Cross on which Christ was crucified. It was built in the atrium of the queen's palace, which was divided into three naves, with an apse added. The basilica is on one of the seven routes of pilgrimage. Over the centuries Santa Croce in Gerusalemme has undergone various renovations: on the inside, where a series of mosaics (many times restored) were placed; and on the outside, where a convent was built. The tomb of Cardinal Francisco Quinones, an example of Sansovino's Roman period, is at the center of the apse. The church you see nowadays dates from the changes ordered by Pope Benedict XIV in the early 18th century. The interior conserves the three naves, but only part of the original granite columns remains. The façade was built by Domenico Gregorini and Pietro Passalacqua and can be considered as one of the last examples of Roman Baroque.

San Pietro in Vincoli

In the 7th Century a church was built in order to house the chain from Constantinople that was said that to have been one of two used to bind St Peter when he was in prison carcere mamertino. The second chain was sent to Rome at a later date and when it was brought into the church it miraculously attached itself to the other chain. You can still see these chains under the altar, and this is how the church got its name San Pietro in Vincoli, meaning St Peter in chains. The church is also renowned for the tomb with the famous statue of Moses by Michelangelo, which was commissioned by Pope Julius II. Richly decorated with frescoes, the interior houses works by Guercino and Giovanbattista Parodi, as well as a beautiful mosaic icon of St Sebastian from the 7th Century. The cloister, built at the end of the 15th Century, is also worth visiting.

Scala Santa

On Good Friday Scala Santa is packed with pilgrims who perform penitence by climbing these 28 wood-covered steps on their knees. According to tradition, these steps were trod by Christ when he was led to Pontius Pilate for his trial. St Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, brought the steps to Rome from Jerusalem. Pope Sixtus V had them placed in their present position. They are covered in wood so that no foot can touch them, and this is the reason why the faithful climb up them on their knees.