More than 900 churches celebrate Rome’s Christian vocation, many of them are authentic jewels of art and architecture and preserve paintings and sculptures that are masterpieces of all time. Which ones to visit? In over 2000 years of Christian history, every era has expressed wonderful works. We suggest you start with these.
The jewel of the Roman Forum, it’s the oldest and most important Christian testimony in the Forum. With 250 square metres of frescoes created between the 6th and 9th centuries, the church of Santa Maria Antiqua is the best museum for Roman painting of the period where a strong Byzantine influence can already be seen.
An 8-minute walk from DoubleTree by Hilton Rome Monti, and incredibly well-preserved in its original 16th-century appearance, Santa Maria ai Monti is an authentic jewel of the Late Renaissance. The interior is a spectacle of original marble work, altars and paintings of the period.
Known as the Mother of all churches in Rome, San Giovanni in Laterano is the Basilica Maggiore together with Santa Maria Maggiore in Piazza dell’Esquilino. The same square where DoubleTree by Hilton Rome Monti is located. Ancient and revamped in appearance up to the 18th century, it represents an extraordinary yet balanced stratification of styles. Inside are works by Giotto, Pisanello, Gentile da Fabriano and Borromini.
With its unmistakable twin bell towers, the Santissima Trinità dei Monti church crowns the Spanish Steps. A Francophone parish since its foundation in the 15th century, the adjoining convent is even more important than the church. And the convent houses wonderful masterpieces. It contains portraits of the kings of France – the reason why it was called the Place de France in the 17th century – as well as the curious anamorphoses and the incredible perspective gallery, all painted between the 15th and 17th centuries.
You’ll find one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Rome, Saint Pudenziana, just a minute’s walk from DoubleTree by Hilton Monti . Its foundation date is uncertain, perhaps 3rd century, but in all likelihood earlier since it stands on the site of the former home of Senator Pudente, who was converted to Christianity by his friend Peter, Christ’s apostle. What is certain is that it preserves extraordinary mosaics of incredible naturalness, dating back to the 4th century.
This is the grand cathedral in Piazza dell’Esquilino, the same square overlooked by DoubleTree by Hilton Rome Monti. Founded in early Christian times, it still has the same structure. Its imposing appearance was given to it during its most recent extension in the 17th century. Much loved by Romans for the miracle of the August snowfall that’s still celebrated today, it’s one of the four papal basilicas in Rome.
