The Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence is the best representation of the hallmarks of Renaissance architecture, and, as such, makes it the most beautiful church in all of Italy. When you enter the church you immediately understand what Renaissance architecture is. The church was designed by the architect Brunelleschi, who traveled to Rome to study the ancient structures. He then brought that style back to Florence.

Pope Joan is a female Pope who is said to have served from 855-857, though her story did not gain prominence until the late 1200s, and,...

Overlooking Trastevere is the beautiful Fontanone - the Big Fountain. The fountain is the counterpart to the Trevi Fountain; both mark the end points of Roman acqueducts. Take the time to enjoy the view, then walk down the steps and enjoy a beautiful dinner at any of a number of great restauraunts in Trastevere.

Just off the city center is a large, gleaming pyramid. This is the tomb of Caius Cestius and it was constructed between 18 and 12 BC. At the time of its construction, it would have been in an open area; the city had not yet spread to this point. The Roman walls constructed under Marcus Aurelius in the 270s actually used this pyramid as part of the walls. If you travel on the subway in Rome, Pryamide is a subway stop, and the stop is connected to Rome's secondary train stat

Raphael's Isaiah is a powerful fresco tucked inside Sant'Agostino near Piazza Navona. This Renaissance version of the prophet is inspired by the works of Michelango.

The pilgrimage church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura is dedicated to the third of Rome's great martyrs, after Peter and Paul, and, as the name suggests, fuoir le mura, it sits outside of the former city walls. St. Lawrence (Lorenzo, in Italian), was a deacon of the church who was killed on August 10, 258 in the Roman persecutions under the Emperor Valerian.

The Basilica of San Silvestro in Capite claims to have the head of John the Baptist.

The church of San Agostino, Rome

The sculpture by Bernini of the Elephant and the Obelisk.

In front of the Castel Sant'Angelo, in view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, the Ponte Sant'Angelo bridge crosses the Tiber. (The...

The religion of ancient Rome called for animal sacrifice on an altar. To protect the priest from seeing any bad omens, the altar was...

In the beautiful Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesci, just a block from Piazza Navona, is a chapel containing three Caravaggio...

Santa Croce in Gerusalemme is a church that I have yet to visit. The foundations of the church date, actually, to the Severan Emperors...

The statue of St. Caecilia in the church which bears her name, over the altar where her remains are, has a fascinating story. This statue...

The basilica of San Stefano Rotondo is unique in Rome! The interior is not a basilica style, but a circular church. And note the...

In the lively Campo de' Fiori of Rome there stands a grim statue with a hood pulled over his head and his stern eyes staring out across...

Roman streets are paved with sampietrini - little blocks that provide the streets of Rome with their charms, but also, frankly, an...

The theater of Marcellus is an ancient theater (as the name suggests) that is currently in use as a modern apartment building. The...

Bernini was the greatest sculptor of the Baroque period and his St. Theresa in Ecstasy presents the moment that St. Theresa of Avila...

I thought it would be interesting to treat the Seven Pilgrimage Churches of Rome on Sundays. The tradition of visiting pilgrimage...