For the past two days, we’ve seen plenty of Churches. There are 4 major basilicas (cathedrals) in Rome. Cathedrals are churches for bishops, and since the Pope is also the bishop of Rome he happens to claim 4 cathedrals. They are St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. We’ve seen the first 3 and will hit the last one before we leave, but there are 120 other churches in Rome and we’ve seen several.
Yesterday we visited San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria di Loreto, Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Santa Susanna, San Bernardo alle Terme, and Sant'Andrea al Quirinale. There may have been one other at the end of the day once my camera battery died…and these are just the churches we went inside.
San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) is the Pope’s Cathedral and therefore ranks above St. Peter’s. Who knew there was a ranking? Its highlights are the huge gold ceiling, 4 immense organs, and in the Lateran Palace next door is the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) – those that Christ walked up (and down) when sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate.
San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) is the Pope’s Cathedral and therefore ranks above St. Peter’s. Who knew there was a ranking? Its highlights are the huge gold ceiling, 4 immense organs, and in the Lateran Palace next door is the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) – those that Christ walked up (and down) when sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate.
Santa Maria di Loreto had a beautiful frescoed ceiling and mosaic side alter.
Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano (Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary at the Trajan Forum) had another beautiful dome, an impressive main alter, and 2 silver-faced statues peering out from one of the two balconies alongside the alter.
San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane is a tiny church – some say it can fit inside one of the main pillars of St. Peter’s. It’s known for its impressive domed ceiling, making it look taller than it really is.
Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs) is known for its meridian line, vast ceiling designed by Michelangelo, and tribute to Galileo Galilei.
Santa Maria della Vittoria is known for Bernini’s masterpiece: the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.
Santa Susanna is the national church in Rome of the United States of America.
San Bernardo alle Terme has architecture similar to the Pantheon, since it is cylindrical, with a dome and an oculus.
Sant'Andrea al Quirinale is an important example of Roman Baroque architecture and was designed by Bernini. This is also the time when the camera finally died, so as they say in several museums throughout Italy: “NO PHOTO”.