1) THE LATERAN COMPLEX AND ST. CLEMENT’S BASILICA

This itinerary will help you to get to know one of the most important places of the whole Christian world: the Lateran complex. 
We will visit Rome’s cathedral, S. Giovanni in Laterano (St. John’s in Lateran), the first Christian basilica built in Rome. It was founded by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century; its interior was transformed into the Baroque style by Borromini in the 17th century.
The medieval cloister and the 5th century baptistery are wonderful.  We will admire the Scala Santa (Holy Staircase), identified with the same staircase that Jesus himself had trodden during the case, in Jerusalem; for this reason the faithful are allowed to climb it only on their knees.
We will also take you to the nearby St. Clement’s Basilica, a real monumental, constituted by superimposition of roman buildings, a Palaeochristian church and the present 12th century church.

2) S. MARIA MAGGIORE, S. PUDENZIANA, S. PRASSEDE

Your guide will take you to discover some of the most beautiful Christian mosaics in Rome .
We will begin in the patriarchal Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, founded by Pope Sixtus III in the 5th century and dedicated to Mary’s divine motherhood.
It has been changed many times during the centuries (the interior is mainly in Baroque style), but it preserves, still intact, the cycle of mosaics dating from the 5th century. They decorate the triumphal arch and the nave.
The scenes were inspired by stories from the Old and the New Testaments.
In the nearby palaeochristian chrurch of S. Pudenziana there is a magnificent apse mosaic, dating from the beginning of the 5th century, in which Christ flanked by the apostles is represented.
At last, in the church of S. Prassede we will show you the wonderful high medieval mosaics, made by Byzantine artists.
They cover the apse, the triumphal arch and the cappella di S. Zenone (St. Zenone’s chapel).

3) S. PIETRO IN VINCOLI AND S. MARTINO AI MONTI

Near the Parco del Cole Oppio (Colle Oppio’s Park) – where ruins of Nero’s Domus Aurea (Golden House) and of the Terme di Traiano (Trajan’s Baths) are preserved – there are the two Basilicas of S. Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter’s “in Chains”) and of S. Martino ai Monti, “jewel – cases” of art and history.
In the first, we will show you the chains that, according to the tradition, bound St. Peter while he was imprisoned in Jerusalem and Rome.
We will also admire the famous Moses by Michelangelo, only a part of the mausoleum designed by the artist for Pope Julius II. S. Martino was founded in the 9th century on a roman building – that you can visit below the interior of the church – and completely restored in the 17th century.

Duration - 3 hours

4) THE CHURCHES OF AVENTINO

This itinerary will permit you to discover the aristocratic Aventine hill, a real corner of heaven in the heart of Rome! The visit will begin from one of the most romantic places in the city, the Parco Savello, or Garden of the orange trees: from here, you will enjoy a wonderful view of Rome.
In front of the garden there is the Basilica di Santa Sabina, one of the most important and best preserved palaeochristian churches in Rome; we will admire a wooden door realized in the 5th century, on which the first scene of crucifixion is represented.
We will also visit the interesting churches of Santa Prisca, founded in the 5th century over an ancient shrine of the Persian god Mitra, and the medieval church of San Saba, leader of eastern monasticism.

Duration - 3 hours