itinerary

Visit the Churches of Rome in 3 Days. The Suggested Itinerary

If you are passionate about Christian art, this itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days is for you. It will take you on a journey through the most beautiful and most interesting churches from the historical, artistic and faith point of view.

All itineraries can be walked all on footso wear comfortable shoes!!!

First Day

The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome

 Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

The itinerary, which will last a full day, takes place in the historic center of the city. You can start from Piazzale della Repubblica (metro station: Repubblica) in front of which stands the huge Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (St. Mary of Angels and Martyrs) that incorporates those that once were the great antechamber and the tepidarium of Diocletian Baths, of which eight huge Egyptian marble columns remain.

Designed by Michelangelo, it was completely remodeled by Vanvitelli in 1750. Notice the double sundial traced on the transept floor, which indicates the polar star and when the sun rises to the Zenit.
From the square get on via Nazionale and reach the Church of San Paolo in the walls. In gothic style, it is the first non Roman Catholic church. The American episcopal church, completed in 1880, is famous for the nineteenth-century mosaics made by Edward Burne-James, who included among the characters of the work some portraits of his contemporaries.
Santa Prudenziana, step of the itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days

The trip to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days continues with the Church of Santa Prudenziana, the church of the Philippine community of Rome. Noteworthy is the golden mosaic of the 4th century which represents the oldest apsidal mosaic of the city. Continue past Piazza Esquilino until you arrive at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four papal basilics dating from the 5th century. Among the things to see there are the 13th-century mosaics of the façade, the cosmatic floorings, similar to marble carpets and mosaics of the apse.
From here keep going and you will find the Church of Santa Prassede, characterized by its glittering Byzantine mosaics, whose tiles still shine after a millennium from its creation. Then take via Merulana and go down to the bottom where the Basilica of Sant’Antonio in Laterano stands, with its artistic masterpieces and frescoes attributed to Franciscan artists. Next to this building you will find the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, the oldest among the papal basilicas. Consecrated in 324 it was a papal seat until 1309, then fell into ruins. What you see today is the result of remakes made after 1361. You can admire the monument to Pope Silvestro, the canopy and the cloister.

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Second Day

We propose to spend the second day of our itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days in the Vatican City. We recommend that you start your visit early in the morning when the influx of tourists is not yet “crazy.”

Visit The St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
St. Peter’s Basilica

The basilica is the largest and richest church in Italy. The first thing that will surprise you is the large size of the church and of everything inside it (including the holy water containers!). Among the things to admire there are the Bernini canopy on the papal altar and the immense dome. Take some time to admire the moving Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is behind a bulletproof glass in a chapel at the beginning of the right nave. Sculpted by the artist when he was 25, it is the only work that comes with his signature (on the band that surrounds Maria’s chest).
The itinerary continues with a visit to the Vatican Grottos, which stretch under the basilica for its entire length. Here you’ll find the tombs of many popes, including that of Pope John Paul II, which will surprise you for its simplicity in comparison to the glittering of the monuments of the basilica above. You can also see some large columns belonging to the basilica of the fourth century.

The last stop that we propose is the Vatican Museums, an attraction not to be missed. Buy the tickets online to avoid the queue at the entrance. The museum complex contains one of the largest art collections in the world. It has been calculated that it would takeSpend at least 12 years to visit it all! Spend there at least a couple of plentiful hours, without missing the Pinacoteca, the Pio-Clementino Museum, the Geographic Charters Gallery, the Raffaello Rooms and of course the unmissable Sistine Chapel

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Third Day

We recommend that you dedicate the last day of the itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days to a visit of the Aventino hill, where some of the oldest churches in Rome can be found.

Visiting Rome: Bocca della Verita, The Mouth of Truth

The Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth)

The itinerary starts from the Circo Massimo (metro stop: Circo Massimo). Today it looks more or less a working grass basin, but in the I century. B.C. was the largest stadium in Rome, with a capacity of up to 250,000 spectators. From there proceed to the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth). Take some photos that can witness that you’ve been here and then head to the Aventine, which hosts the Roseto Comunale (Town Rose Garden) with more than 1100 roses from around the world. Continue the itinerary by taking Via Santa Sabina and visit the Giardino degli aranci (Oranges Garden), from which you can see one of the most beautiful views of Rome. Take advantage of it to make some panoramic photos. Return to the street where you will meet the Basilica of Santa Sabina, dated to the 5th century, period when the cypress wood portal with 18 carved panels were made up. One of them is the crucifixion, one of the first portrayal of Christ’s passion. The church of Santa Maria del Priorato is located next to Piazza Cavalieri of Malta, the order to which the church belongs.
Keep going straight to the Cimitero Acattolico (Non Catholic Cemetery), considered one of the most beautiful non-Catholic cemeteries in the world. In front of the cemetery there is the Pyramid of Caio Cestio inspired by the Egyptian style and built in I sec. B.C.

Rome's actractions: Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
Visit the churches of Rome in 3 days. Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

The tour to visit the churches of Rome in three days ends with a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Built by Constantine in the 4th century on the tomb of Saint Paul (decapitated under Nero in 67 AD), the splendid basilica was the largest church in the world until the construction of today’s St. Peter’s Basilica. what we see today is a faithful reconstruction after the fire of 1823, although some original parts remained, such as the triumphal arch, the Gothic ciborium and the candelabrum for the Easter votive candle.
In the itinerary that we have proposed to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days, we did not suggest any times for pauses and we entrust them to you depending on your interest and on the time that you would like to dedicate to individual attractions.

Practical Information

Basilica Santa Maria of Angels and Martyrs: 7am-6.30pm free admission

Saint Paul’s Church inside the walls: 9am-1.30pm free entrance

Church of Santa Prudenziana: 8am-12am / 4pm-6pm free admission

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore: 7am-8pm free admission

Church of Santa Prassede: 7am-12am/4pm-6pm Free admission

Basilica of St. Anthony in Laterano: 7am-6.30pm free entrance

Saint John in Lateran Basilica: 7am-6.30pm free entrance

St. Peter’s Basilica: 1st October – 31st March every day 7am-6.30pm / 1 April – 30 September every day 7am-7pm. Free admission.

Vatican Museums: Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm (last entry at 4pm and exit from theaters half an hour before closing).

Vatican Grottos: 7am-6pm free entrance

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VISIT ROME IN 4 DAYS. THE ROUTES OF THE PERFECT ROME ITINERARY

A visit of Rome in 4 days will surely give you the opportunity to enjoy without hurry most of the attractions in the capital. Museums, parks, monuments will no longer have secrets for you. There are a thousand itineraries that can be organized to visit Rome in 4 days, and you can choose them according to what you are interested to see and the time you want to dedicate to each attraction.
To make your task easier, we offer you our suggestions, including all the attractions that you should not absolutely miss during your stay in the Eternal City. This is a rough itinerary, which you can follow in full or even partially, depending on what you want to do.

Here is our itinerary to visit Rome in 4 days:

FIRST DAY

What will you see:
Basilica of San Pietro
Castel Sant’Angelo
Piazza Navona
Campo dei Fiori

VATICAN CITY

The Basilica of San Pietro is unmissable if you want to visit in Rome in 4 days

Since you are still full of energy, we recommend that you start your itinerary to visit Rome in 4 days from the Vatican City (metro stop: Ottaviano-San Pietro).You should arrive early in the morning, when the flow of visitors is still low.
The Basilica of San Pietro is unmissable if you want to visit in Rome in 4 days
Visit immediately the Basilica of San Pietro, the largest, rich and spectacular Italian church. No photograph or explanation by people who have visited it can make to feel the emotion that the grandeur of the building inspires with the magnificence of the decorations and the works of art that it contains. We recommend that you wear appropriate clothes if you do not want to be stopped from accessing the basilica. Miniskirts, shorts, or bare shoulders are not allowed.
At the end of the visit, stop for a few moments in Piazza San Pietro, enjoying the magnificence of what is one of the largest public spaces in the world.

Then head to the Vatican Museums, which are nearby. We advise you to buy the tickets online to avoid the queue at the entrance. The museum (equipped for the disabled) is immense and it would take years to see it all, therefore, for a panoramic visit we suggest you go to the Pinacoteca, the Pio-Clementino museum, the geographic maps gallery, Raphael rooms and of course the ‘unmissable Sistine Chapel with the priceless frescoes by Michelangelo. Consider being in the museum for at least two hours.

CASTEL SANT’ANGELO

After leaving the museum, walk along Via della Conciliazione toy arrive at Castel Sant’Angelo, the papal fortress built in the Middle Ages on the ruins of the emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum. (II century d.c.). Do not leave the fortress without a stop on the Terrazza dell’Angelo, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city. If you have the Roma Pass you can skip the queue by passing through the appropriate turnstiles for direct access to the site.After the visit, treat yourself to a well-deserved break to eat and regain your strength. Pay attention because that the area around the Vatican is full of pizzerias and trattorias that often serve poor food at an excessive price.

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Continue your itinerary by crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo, and take a stroll through alleys and squares that still maintain an authentic Roman character. Head towards Piazza Navona, the quintessence of Roman squares. Let yourself be enchanted by the marvelous Baroque palaces and exuberant fountains (including that of the four Bernini rivers). The square is characterized by a large crowd of tourists, portraitists and street artists who fills it every hour of the day and night.
If you want to take a break you can go to the nearby Piazza Sant’Eustachio and enter the Café with the same name: the place is not anything special but serves the best espresso coffee in the city.

CAMPO DEI FIORI

Then go back to Piazza Navona and exit the square towards the south. Cross Corso Vittorio Emanuele and follow Via dei Ballauri to Campo dei Fiori with the famous statue of Giordano Bruno, a heretic monk condemned to the stake during the Counter-Reformation. The square is one of the focal points of Roman life: during the day with a busy market, in the evening is a pace where to go for a drink.

Finish your evening by dining around this area.

SECOND DAY

What will you see:
Piazza di Spagna
Fontana di Trevi
Pantheon

PIAZZA DI SPAGNA

Piazza di Spagna, the ideal place to spend an evening if you want to visit Rome in 4 days

The second day of your itinerary to visit Rome in 4 days starts from Piazza di Spagna (metro stop: Spagna) with its famous steps of Trinità dei Monti (which after the restoration has regained all its splendor), at whose feet you will find the famous fountain of Barcaccia. Together with the ocher-colored buildings that surround it, these architectural elements give the square an indisputable eighteenth-century elegance.
In front of the stairway there is Via dei Condotti, destination of the expensive shopping fans. Along the way there are indeed the most elegant shops in Rome. If your wallet allows you, do not miss the opportunity to make purchases.

FONTANA DI TREVI

Follow the road all the way up to Via del Corso (another shopping street) from where you can reach the spectacular Trevi Fountain, the largest and most famous of Roman fountains. You will notice the fountain suddenly, with an emotional impact that will leave you breathless. The streets leading to the fountain are not in fact aligned with it. One can understand Its proximity by the noise of the water, but nothing allows the visitor to foresee the magnificence of the place.

PANTHEON

After stopping at the Trevi fountain, taking your inevitable photos and eating something, cross Via del Corso and go to the Pantheon. Together with the Colosseum, the Pantheon is one of the great symbols of Rome and the best preserved ancient monument of the capital. The visit of the building will leave you amazed, with its largest concrete dome in the world and the interior covered with marble.

THIRD DAY

What will you see:
Colosseoum
Vittoriano
Capitoline Museums

THE COLOSSEUM

If you want to visit Rome in 4 days the Colosseum is an unmissable attraction

The third day of our itinerary to visit Rome in 4 days includes going to the discovery of ancient Rome. We recommend starting the tour in the early morning to avoid the hours of overcrowding and to take bottles of water and something to eat. You will avoid spending a fortune to buy them in bars or vans in Via dei Fori imperial.
Leave from the Colosseum (metro stop: Colosseum), the symbol of Rome par excellence and the most exciting among the monuments of the ancient city. If you decide to visit it inside, buy the ticket online (Roma Pass), you will skip the long lines at the entrance.
Not far from the Colosseum you will find the Arch of Constantino, the most famous of the Roman triumphal arches and one of the last monuments of ancient Rome. After taking some souvenir photos, take Via dei Fori Imperiali and arrive to the Roman Forum, once a pulsating heart of Rome, which will be on your left. On the other side of the road there is the whole area of the Fori Imperiali, the archaeological complex that contains all the forums built by the various emperors between 42 AC and 112 AD. You can admire the Forums from Via Alessandrina, by arriving up to the imposing Trajan’s Column.
Along this route there are not many restaurants or bars, so we suggest that you eat something packed once you arrive under the Trajan’s Column. Alternatively, if your legs allow it, you can reach the Rione Monti (from the Imperial Fori take Via Cavour and then turn into Via dei Serpenti). It is a district full of hills, but full also of trattorias, trendy clubs and bistros.

VITTORIANO

Once you have refreshed and rested a bit, head for Piazza Venezia to visit the Vittoriano. The judgment on this attraction divides visitors into two groups: those who love it and that of those who hate it. What is certain is that it is impossible to ignore it. Built in 1885 to commemorate the unity of Italy, today it is dedicated to the unknown soldier. Please note that it is forbidden to sit for respect of the place and the controls are strict. The view that can be enjoyed from the terrace at the top is incomparable. You can reach the top of the Vittoriano with the panoramic glass elevator accessible on the side of the building.

CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS

As the last stop of the day, we suggest you to visit the Campidoglio, the most famous and smallest Roman hill. The most spectacular way to get there is along the Cordonata the steps leading from Piazza d’Aracoeli to Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo. Here there is a perfect copy of the equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius. The original is located in the Capitoline Museums (equipped for the disabled) located on the right of the square. The Capitoline Museums are the oldest public museum in the world and are absolutely worth a visit.

FOURH DAY

What will you see:
National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia
National Gallery of Modern Art
Museum and Galleria Borghese
Piazza Barberini

MUSEUM AND GALLERIA BORGESE

The Borghese Gallery in Rome, one of the main attractions

Dedicate the last day of your itinerary to visit Rome in 4 days to discover one of the most beautiful parks in the city: Villa Borghese.
It consists of several parts, and you can find avenues lined with trees or hedges and flower beds. It is crossed by pebble bodies as well as by some roads. The park is ideal for resting or for taking the children for a picnic.
The main entrance is on Piazzale Flaminio, that you can easily reach by getting off at the Flaminio underground station (line A). From there take Via Flaminia and follow it until you reach Via di Villa Giulia. Continue on this road that will take you to the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, which since 1889 houses the national collection of Etruscan objects coming mostly from graves scattered throughout Lazio. Among the most important pieces we point out the sarcophagus of the spouses, finely sculpted.

Then enter Viale delle Belle Arti. Stroll up to the staircase of the National Gallery of Modern Art where you can find masterpieces of Italian artists between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Return to Viale delle Belle Arti and continue until you reach Viale di Villa Giulia. Enter the park, walk until you get to the Museum and Galleria Borghese (included in the Roma Pass) which houses one of the most prestigious collections of art objects in Rome. In one space you will find concentrated works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Botticelli and Raphael, and the famous statue of Canova portraying Paolina Borghese as the winning Venus.

PIAZZA BARBERINI

Once out, take Viale Museo Borghese and reach Corso d’Italia. Go through the Arco di Porta Pinciana and arrive in Via Veneto. Walk on this historic street of Rome, with its cafés, clubs and luxurious hotels, also immortalized in the unforgettable film “La dolce vita” and arrive to Piazza Barberini, where you will find the beautiful Bernini’s Triton Fountain. It represents a triton blowing a jet of water through a shell, sitting in turn on a shell supported by four dolphins.
Our itinerary to visit Rome in 4 days ends here.
In this itinerary we have included several museums in the Villa Borghese. You can decide whether to visit one, or more than one and, consequently, when to have a lunch break.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

San Pietro Basilica: 1st October – 31st March every day 7am -6.30pm / 1 April – 30 September every day 7am-7pm. Free admission.
Vatican Museums: from Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm (last admission at 4pm and exit from the rooms half an hour before closing).
Buy tickets online for priority access to skip the line
Castel Sant’Angelo: every day 9am-7.30pm (the ticket office closes at 6.30pm). Full ticket € 10, reduced ticket € 5. Included in the Roma Pass
Colosseum: every day except 25 December and 1 January 9-17. Until February 15th 8.30am – 4.30pm; 16 February to 15 March 8.30am – 5pm; from the 16th to the last Saturday of March 8.30am – 5.30pm; from the last Sunday of March until 31 August 8.30 – 19.15; from 1 to 30 September 08.30am – 7pm; from 1 to the last Saturday of October 8.30am – 6.30pm. Last admission one hour before closing. Full ticket € 12, reduced ticket € 7.50, free under 18 years. Included in the Roma Pass.
Capitoline Museums: every day 9.30-19.30, 24 and 31 December 9.30am – 2pm. The ticket office closes an hour earlier. Closed on January 1st, May 1st, December 31st. Full ticket € 14, reduced ticket € 12. Included in the Roma Pass.
Villa Giulia’s National Etruscan Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am – 7.30pm; the ticket office closes at 6.30pm; closed on Mondays; also closed on January 1, May 1 (except for special openings arranged by MiBACT) and December 25. When the Monday, closing day, coincides with a holiday (eg Easter Monday), the museum remains open. Full ticket € 8.00, reduced ticket € 4.00. Included in the Roma Pass.
National Gallery of Modern Art: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6:30 pm 24 and 31 December from 10 am to 2 pm. Closed on Monday, 1 January, 1 May, 25 December. Admission is allowed up to half an hour before closing time. Full price: € 7.50, reduced ticket: € 6.50. Included in the Roma Pass.
Borghese Museum and Gallery: closed on Mondays, from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 7.30pm. Closed 1 January, 25 December. Admission is allowed until half an hour before closing.
Full € 11.00 (9.00 + 2.00 booking required), reduced € 6.50 (4.50 + 2.00 booking required). The cost of admission to the museum may be increased compared to the amount paid at the time of booking for the opening of a temporary exhibition. Included in the Roma Pass.

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