The Church of St. Agnes in Agone contains the relic of a young martyr — Saint Agnes — whose story is one of the most moving and...

One of the most fascinating types of churches in Rome are the titular churches — churches that were once house-churches, and still today...

This little Fountain of Books is located in a wonderfully rich part of the city, and is easy to overlook. It borders the Piazza Navona,...

At the intersection of four Roman streets, each corner features a fountain with a river god or symbolic figure. The site sits directly between Santa Maria Maggiore and the Spanish Steps, with obelisks visible at both ends — a product of papal urban planning. Don’t miss San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Borromini’s unforgettable little church tucked into one corner.

The Arch of Janus is a four-sided structure located near the Tiber River, close to where Romulus and Remus reportedly washed ashore. Adjacent to it is the church of San Giorgio al Velabro. While named for the two-faced god Janus, there is no historical connection to the deity.

Michelangelo's Risen Christ is located in the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, behind the Pantheon in Rome. This masterpiece by Michelangelo is accessible to visitors away from typical crowds. The church has recently undergone renovations, making it an opportune time to visit this significant work.

I am starting a new series called Brevia Italica , which is Latin for Snippets of Italy , or Italian Briefs . While I have written about...

San Sisto Vecchio honors Pope Sixtus II, who was martyred in 258 in the same persecution and orders which brought about the death of St....

On Tuesday, the Thid Week of Lent we turn to one of the oldest churches in Rome, constructed between 140 and 155 AD. Santa Pudenziana is...

San Marco is among he oldest churches in Rome, and you may be surprised to hear that you have passed by it. If you have stood at the...

On this day we return to San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence), one of seven pilgrimage churches of Rome, which were churches established for...

The original church devoted to the saints Marcellinus and Pietrus was likely consecrated in the late 4th century. The pope often...

The most striking thing to a modern visitor to San Vitale is not the architecture, or the art, or the history. What stands out the most...

One of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Rome, Santa Maria in Trastevere is also located in one of the most delightful areas of...

The story of Saint Cecilia, from her conversion to where she is today, is one of the most touching in terms of her as an individual and...

The church of Santa Balbina is a quiet, but relatively central section of Rome. Located within view of the Baths of Caracalla this...

Within an easy walk of the Colosseum you will find the Basilica of San Clemente, a basilica which embodies all the layers of history in...

Today's church is a lovely church just south of the Colosseum. There are two items of note that are directly related to the evolution of...

St. Peter's Basilica is the main church of all Catholicism. In this first post about this magnificent church, I want to focus on how and...

The Basilica Santi Apostoli, located centrally in Rome near Piazza Venezia, holds the relics of St. Philip and St. James the Lesser, rediscovered in the late 1800s. Originally built in the mid-300s, the current structure is a result of multiple rebuilds, including an 1800s renovation. It was also Michelangelo's initial burial site before his body was moved to Florence.