Rome

Historic churches in Rome

Rome’s historic churches represent a timeline of architectural and artistic evolution. This collection includes the Pantheon’s ancient Roman dome, the Baroque innovations of Borromini at Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, and the Jesuit mother church, Il Gesù. Visitors can find Caravaggio’s masterpieces at Saint Louis the French, early Christian mosaics at Saint Praxedes, and the multi-layered archaeological ruins beneath the Basilica of St. Clement. From the expansive Catacombs of Saint Calixt to churches built within Roman baths, these sites house centuries of sacred relics and world-renowned art.

Indrani Iragavarapu / CC BY-SA 3.0

Pantheon

Ancient Roman temple and minor basilica featuring the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. This 2nd-century structure is one of the best-preserved buildings from antiquity and serves as both a Catholic church and a state museum.

Fczarnowski / CC BY-SA 3.0

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Major papal basilica known for its neoclassical and early Christian architecture, housing the tomb of Saint Paul and featuring significant mosaics and art. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

MM / CC BY-SA 4.0

Church of Saint Yves at La Sapienza

Historic baroque church renowned for its distinctive architecture and religious significance, featuring a unique spiral lantern. Designed by Francesco Borromini, it exemplifies innovative Roman Baroque style.

Nicholas Gemini / CC BY-SA 4.0

Basilica of St.Clement

Historic Roman Catholic basilica featuring layered archaeological structures and notable mosaics dating back to the 1st century. It combines ancient Roman, early Christian, medieval, and renaissance elements within a religious and cultural heritage site.

Paul Hermans / CC BY-SA 3.0

Church of Saint Louis the French

Historic Catholic church featuring Baroque architecture and renowned for its Caravaggio masterpieces, including the Contarelli Chapel paintings.

Darren Copley / CC BY 2.0

Church of the Gesù

The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order.

Luca Aless / CC BY-SA 3.0

Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and of the Martyrs is a basilica and titular church in Rome, Italy, built inside the ruined…

Fczarnowski / CC BY-SA 4.0

Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella

Santa Maria in Vallicella, also called Chiesa Nuova, is a church in Rome, Italy, which today faces onto the main thoroughfare of the Corso…

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Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli

The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Altar in Heaven is a titular basilica in Rome, located on the highest summit of the Campidoglio.

Jensens / Public domain

Sant'Agnese in Agone

Sant'Agnese in Agone is a 17th-century Baroque church in Rome, Italy. It faces onto the Piazza Navona, one of the main urban spaces in the…

John Chapman / CC BY-SA 3.0

Church of Trinità dei Monti

The Church of Santissima Trinità dei Monti, often called simply Trinità dei Monti, is a Roman Catholic late Renaissance titular church in…

MarkusMark / CC BY-SA 3.0

Saint Charles at the Four Fountains

The church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, also called San Carlino, is a Roman Catholic church in Rome, Italy.

Miguel Hermoso Cuesta / CC BY-SA 4.0

Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is a 5th-century church in Rome, Italy, in the Trastevere rione, devoted to the Roman martyr Saint Cecilia.

Pippo-b / CC BY-SA 3.0

Santa Maria della Pace

Although this church charms passersby by its bold Baroque facade, it is its interior that no lover of Renaissance art should miss.

Berthold Werner / Public domain

Basilica of Saint Praxedes

The Basilica of Saint Praxedes, commonly known in Italian as Santa Prassede, is an early medieval titular church and minor basilica located…

Felix König / CC BY 3.0

Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin

The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin is a minor basilican church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Croberto68 / Public domain

Museum of the Souls of Purgatory

This neogothic church, consecrated in 1921, may not be the oldest or the most breath-taking in Rome, however, it is certainly worth a visit.

Dnalor 01 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Catacombs of Saint Calixt

One of the largest and most important underground Christian cemeteries, housing around 500,000 burials including martyrs and 16 popes. It is a significant archaeological site featuring early Christian art and architecture.