Hidden jewels: Roman Churches U can’t miss
One of the first things that usually strike people as odd when they arrive in Rome is the number of churches they find in the city, especially in the most visited areas. There is, of course, a logical explanation for this. Rome, having been for more than two thousand years the “headquarters” for the Catholic Church, has seen the growth and prosperity of the church throughout history and the temples it has are here as a sign of this. Do not mistake them for abandoned buildings or museums, though. Most of the churches in Rome continue to be active and, besides the visits from the millions of tourists that come here every year, are also active centres for worship, formation and welfare service.
That being said, it is also true that many of them are truly precious, whether for their historical importance, the artistic works of art they house or the building in themselves that make them masterpieces on their own right. This, of course, is no secret, but the huge number of temples makes it impossible to visit them all. That is why we wanted to suggest a couple of them you really shouldn’t miss while you’re here. We’ll skip the more classic and well known, like Saint Peter or the Pantheon, and instead propose some rather unknown but very interesting ones.
Find layer upon layer of Rome in San Clemente
Not far away from the Colosseum or Saint John’s Basilica lies San Clemente, “Saint Clement”. This gorgeous basilica is especially interesting, however, not because of the current building, but of what lies underneath. In the lower levels you will find the remains of the medieval basilica, and going even deeper underground the ruins of a Roman house and a Mithraeum, a small ancient temple dedicated to the god Mithras, whose cult was pretty much in fashion during the time of Emperor Hadrian. The whole exhibition is very well curated, definitely worth a visit (and also a refreshing change of temperature in the scorching heat of the summer). You’ll find it at Via Labicana 93.
Geek out at Saint’Ivo alla Sapienza
Francesco Borromini is, to this day, one of the persons who has left his very visible mark in Rome. Among his works, one of the most interesting is the small (by Roman standards) chapel for what once was the main building for the Sapienza University and now is home to the State’s Archive. Since it was to become the church for that university’s students, Borromini made of that building a symbol of humanity’s search for wisdom (Sapienza means “wisdom” in Italian). From the foundations to the cross on the top of Saint Ivo, the place is packed with symbols and images related to this pursuit. The gorgeous courtyard where the church is located isolates it from the noisy streets of the city centre, so it can also be an oasis of stillness in the middle of Rome. You’ll find it at Corso del Rinascimento 40, between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
Be dazzled by mosaics at Santa Prassede
Just a few steps away from Santa Maria la Maggiore lies Santa Prassede, one of Rome’s many minor Basilicas. It’s one of those places you’ll risk passing by without noticing it. But once you enter, it’s a different story. While there are other churches in Rome that have kept at least a little of byzantine art, Santa Prassede has probably the lion’s share of it. Both the apse and a small chapel remain as a glorious example of medieval art. Santa Prassede also claims to have a relic from Jesus himself: namely, part of the pillar where he was whipped by the soldiers during his Passion (the Franciscans in Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre Basilica claim to have it as well, but that’s another story for another day). The Basilica is also home to a huge reliquary holding the remains of hundreds of Roman martyrs, which makes it an interesting stop if you’re a pilgrim or interested in the early days of Christianism in the city. You’ll find all this at Via di Santa Prassede.
Adjust your sundial at Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri
What do you do when you have the ruins of ancient baths lying around? Well, Pope Pius IV charged Michelangelo with the task of using them as base to build a Basilica. The famed artist laid down the main design to which other artists would add their own contributions later on. Located at the Piazza della Repubblica, this basilica was for a while the main church for the Kingdom of Italy. All this, and the church’s undisputable beauty makes for a sight to see. But Santa Maria is also the home to the city’s meridian. Pope Clement XI had it built there to check the accuracy of the then new Gregorian Calendar, and also as a way to predict Easter and boast a bigger and better meridian than the one there was in Bologna. Picture a huge sundial decorated with the signs of the zodiac and you’ll get an estimate image of this quirky creation. The Basilica holds contemporary art exhibitions from time to time, so ask if there’s any presentation when you go visit it!
This small showing of Rome’s almost thousand churches is another great example of how the city’s attractions are almost limitless. It also reminds us that, while Rome is always amazing, it’s better to know with someone who knows how to move around town. Let us help you plan your trip and guide you through the Eternal City. Contact us! We can’t wait to show you Rome.
