The Church of Saint Peter in Chains contains, as the name suggests, the chains that held Peter when he was imprisoned in Rome. They are prominently displayed under the altar. The story about the chains can be a bit confusing. At its core, the chain that held St. Peter was divided at some point in its history, with half going to Jerusalem. It was returned to Rome, however, and upon being placed with the other half, to two pieces joined to become one.

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,...

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

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...

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

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

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

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 city. Away from the crows of tourists that surround the Vatican or the Colosseum (but, to be clear, no less crowded), just on the other side of the Tiber river, you will find the area called Trastevere. The crowds here are more local and more interested in relaxing and enjoying their time in the city without any schedule or agenda. Her

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.

If you are going through the Monti area in Rome, headed to Santa Maria Maggiore, you will likely walk down Via Panisperna. In doing so...

Today we are introduced to what is known in technical terms, as a whopper of a church. There is so much to see and to unpack when it...