Christian Rome - The Roman Catholic Church and Vatican

Christian Rome

As the heart of the Roman Catholic Church, Christian Rome, or more specifically the Vatican – has drawn pilgrims from all over the world who find Rome to be a centre of faith and devotion. Even those without such a strong sense of faith can still be dazzled by the rich treasures of the Vatican and intrigued by the mysterious legends of Christian Rome.

Christian Rome - The Vatican

For most visitors who come to discover Christian Rome the first stop will inevitably be the Vatican. Lying to the northwest of the city centre, the world’s smallest country is an absolute-must visit in Rome. Just some of the important Christian Rome landmarks you will find in the Vatican City are St Peters Basilica – generally considered to be the most important church in Christianity and the Apostolic Palace – the official residence of the Pope where you can visit the Sistine Chapel. Vatican tickets are limited and to ensure that you do not miss out on the chance to visit this bastion of Christian Rome pre-book one of the many available Vatican tours.

Over the years the Pontiffs have all been keen supporters of the Arts. As well as being a place of great religious importance the Vatican Museums are a treasure trove of art and antiquities which span many centuries. The influence of Michelangelo on the Vatican is evident at every turn, be it the exquisite frescoes on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, the Dome of St Peter’s Basilica or the design of the imposing St Peters Square, perhaps no other artist has left such an indelible mark on the Vatican.

Christian Rome – Outside the Vatican

Outside of the border of the Vatican many other Rome landmarks bear witness to the importance of Christian Rome. Scattered across Rome the Christian Catacombs have come to be seen as shrines to some of the early Martyrs of the faith and have over the years become some of the cities most unusual tourist attractions. Other places of great significance in Christian Rome include the Holy Staircase, believed to be the staircase climbed by Christ on the way to stand trial before Pontius Pilot or the nearby Basilica of St John Lateran – the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope.

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