Roma Sacra
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29 photos
St. Peter's Basilica
The most famous church in the world for a reason, the pope's own cathedral lies at the heart of Vatican City and contains some of the world's most famous artwork. |
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14 photos
St. Paul Outside the Walls
Built on the traditional spot of the Apostle's martyrdom, the unique style of St. Paul's is due to its combination of early Christian, Byzantine, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Destroyed by a fire in 1823, Pius IX ordered that the reconstruction reproduce identically its former state. |
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40 photos
St. John Lateran
Dedicated both to St. John the Baptist and to St. John the Evangelist, this first cathedral of Rome was the papal residence from the time of Constantine until the 14th century and accordingly claims the title of "Mother and Mistress of all the churches." |
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18 photos
St. Mary Major
Erected on the spot indicated by Our Lady through a miraculous snowfall on the top of the Esquiline hill on August 5, 358, this is the largest and most ornate of the twenty-six Roman churches dedicated to the Mother of God. |
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14 photos
St. Lawrence Outside the Walls
Like St. Paul's, this basilica was constructed on the grave site of its martyred patron, and contains not only his relics, but also those of St. Stephen, St. Justin Martyr, and the body of Blessed Pius IX. |
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11 photos
Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem
Called "in Jerusalem" because earth from the Holy Land rests inside the Basilica, this Church is dedicated to the relics of the Passion recovered by Constantine's mother, St. Helen. |
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10 photos
Basilica of St. Sebastian & the Catacombs
The Basilica of St. Sebastian on the ancient Appian Way lies directly above those catacombs also named in his honor and connects directly to them by way of a side entrance. Unfortunately, photography within the catacombs themselves is forbidden. |