St. Peter's and the Major Papal Basilicas - Self Guided Tour

Written on 04/25/2024

EWTN Vatican

Key Places for Jubilee Holy Doors and Extra Territorial Sites of Holy See

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Located throughout Rome, each papal basilica carries a rich story with many pilgrims to Rome making the journey to each one before choosing a favorite. By passing through the Holy Door of any of these basilicas, it is possibe to receive a plenary indulgence during the 2025 Jubilee Year.

Estimated Time: 7 hours

Places to Visit:

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Mary Major

St. John Lateran

St. Paul Outside the Walls

St. Peter's Basilica

Heart of the Catholic Church, Largest basilica in the world, and burial place of St. Peter

Located within the Vatican and known around the world as the home of the Catholic church and resting place of the Apostle Peter. While the actual bones of Saint Peter are not open to public viewing, upon entering the basilica, one of the first things you will see is the famous Baldacchino. Built by Bernini in 1623, the bronze and wood spirals rise above the resting place of the first pope. It is also centered perfectly beneath the dome, which at 448 feet is not only the tallest dome in the world but also the highest point in Rome.

Open Map - St. Peter's Basilica

See the significant points, tombs, relics, and artistic treasures on the interactive map. For tickets to Masses with the Holy Father and for General Audiences, please see our tutorial: How to See the Pope. Entrance to the Square and Basilica are always free. Visit to the St. Peter's Dome: €8. Basilica Hours: 7.00 - 18.00

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Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran

Papal Basilica and first church constructed after legalization of Christianity. Seat of the Bishop of Rome - the Pope

Known in Italian as San Giovanni Laterano, this is the odlest of the four major basilicas in Rome, which include St. Peter's Basilica, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. The property originally belonged to the Lateran family, and was inherited by Constantine's wife, Fausta. Emperor Constantine then donated it to Pope Miltiades I after the legalization of Christianity around the year 311.

The papal basilica to this day is the cathedral of Rome and official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome. It was the papal residence until the Avignon Papacy. Pope Martin V, the pontiff who brought the papacy back to Rome, is buried before the main altar. The relics of the heads of St. Peter and Paul are located in the ciborium above at the center of the church. Tradition holds that a large relic of a table on the left side of the church was the table on which Jesus and the apostles celebrated the Last Supper.

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"St. John Lateran" - EWTN Vaticano

Please visit the Location Page for Mass Times & Information.

Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major

Sanctuary of Miracles: The First Marian Shrine and Papal Basilica

Beyond its’ miraculous beginnings, the Basilica holds the most important Marian icon known as the Salus Populi Romani. Tradition holds it was created by Saint Luke and it marks the antiquity of this first Marian church. Buried inside are a number of Popes as well as Saint Jerome and famed artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Arching above these treasures, the golden ceiling features the first of the gold brought back by Columbus from America. In the crypt, one can visit the alleged relic of the manger or bed Jesus was laid in.

Visitors to the Basilica on August 5th can witness the remembrance of Our Lady of the Snows, when white rose petals fall from the ceiling during the Mass on the feast day.

Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

A Global Beacon: The Legacy of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Built over the burial place of Saint Paul, this Basilica is known for its’ rich history and renowned cloister. Consecrated in the year 330 by Pope Sylvester, the original structure was much smaller than its current size as the 10th largest church in the world. Facing east towards Jerusalem, additions over the years gave the church its’ iconic columned courtyard and the famous Gothic ciborium created by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1285. Up until the consecration of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint Paul Outside the Walls held the title of largest Basilica in Rome.

During the night of July 15, 1823 a devastating fire destroyed the majority of the Basilica. Pope Leo XII appealed to faithful around the world and the church was rebuilt identical to how it had been before the fire. Donors included Tsar Nicholas I and King Fouad of Egypt and the site became the largest construction event of the century. On December 10 of 1854, the "new" Basilica was consecrated by Pope Pius IX where the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception was also proclaimed.