1) THE LATERAN COMPLEX AND ST. CLEMENTS BASILICA
This itinerary will let you know one of the most important places of the whole Christian world: the Lateran complex.
We will visit Romes Cathedral, S. Giovanni in Laterano (St. Johns in Lateran), the first Christian church to be ever built in Rome and the World. It was founded by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, but its interior was transformed by Borromini in the 17th Century, according with the Baroque art style. The amazing statues of the Apostoles, running along the nave, are certainly one of the main attractions in the church.
Take your time to explore the side chapels and to get the area of the transepst, where a medieval canopy stands, marking the papal altar. Also, admire the medieval mosaic decorating the apse, created by the franciscan friar Jacopo Torriti.
We will also spend some time in the Baptistry, and the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), believed to be the Pontius Pilate's House staircase that Jesus himself had trodden during the trial, in Jerusalem; for this reason the faithfuls are allowed to climb it only on their knees.
After the Lateran, we'll visit the nearby St. Clements Basilica, a perfect example of the archaeological stratification of Rome; the complex is made by three levels: the lower one is a roman house, with a temple for the pagan god Mithra; the second level is a paleochristian church from the IV century, and the upper level is the medieval church,still in use.

2) S. MARIA MAGGIORE, S. PUDENZIANA, S. PRASSEDE
You will 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 Mother of God.
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: Christ flancked by the Apostoles.
In the church of S. Prassede we will admire a cycle of wonderful mosaics, made by Byzantine artists, decorating the apse, the triumphal arch and the cappella di S. Zenone (St. Zenones chapel).

3) S. PIETRO IN VINCOLI AND S. MARTINO AI MONTI
Near the Parco del Colle Oppio where some ruins of Neros Domus Aurea (Golden House) and of the Terme di Traiano (Trajans Baths) are still preserved there are the two Basilicas of S. Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peters in Chains) and S. Martino ai Monti, jewel cases of art and history.
In the first, we will see 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, part of the mausoleum, never completed, designed by the artist for Pope Julius II.
S. Martino's church 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.

4) THE CHURCHES ON THE AVENTINE HILL
We will discover the aristocratic Aventine hill, a real corner of heaven in the heart of Rome! The visit begins in one of the most romantic places in the city, the Parco Savello, or Garden of the orange trees: from here, you can enjoy a wonderful view over the city, expecially admiring the Tiber River, the area of Trastevere and St. Peter's Basilica.
In front of the garden, the Basilica di Santa Sabina stands, one of the most important and best preserved palaeochristian churches in Rome; we will admire a wooden door carved 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.

5) ST. AGNES CATACOMBS AND ST COSTANZA MAUSOLEUM
On the via Nomentana, there is one of the most popular and beautiful religious sites in Rome, where you can visit a royal Mausoleum, built to house the remains of St. Costanza,Constantines daughter; your eyes will be amazed by the circular shape and the wonderful mosaics of fruits, flowers, vines and animals.
We will also admire the remains of the funeral Basilica built by Constantine, in the shape of a roman circus, and St. Agnes church, founded by pope Honorius I over the cemetery where the young martyr Agnes, who died at the age of 13 for her faith, was buried in 304.

6) ST. PAUL'S BASILICA AND THE TRE FONTANE SANCTUARY
The Basilica of St. Paul's outside the Walls, built by Constantine over the burial place of the Apostle. The basilica is rich in works of art: there are wonderful mosaics by Pietro Cavallini and the 13th century marble canopy designed by Arnolfo di Cambio.
We will also admire the portraits of all the popes from St Peter to Francis and you will have time to stop and pray in the confessio, next to the place where the marble sarcophagus with the Apostle's remains has been discovered.
On request, it also possible to visit the beautiful medieval cloister, a masterpiece by the Cosmati family.
From the Basilica on the via Ostiense we will move to the via Laurentina, in order to visit an other spiritual place, the Tre Fontane Santuary: here, according to tradition, St. Paul was martyred, being beheaded: his head, falling, would be bounced three times, giving rise to three sources of water (Tre fontane means three fountains).