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3 hours
Mobile ticket
When the Roman Empire embraced the faith it once persecuted, it exploded into a frenzy of observance for the history and truth of the Christian faith manifest in the literary, the artistic and the relics of the early Christian church. Many of these were then brought to the then capital of the world - Rome. On this tour expect to have an intimate encounter with the Relics of the Passion of Jesus Christ - physical objects which were used in his torture and death, and which were mostly brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St Helena - the mother of Emperor Constantine - in the 4th century. All pilgrims who join us on this once in a lifetime Catholic pilgrimage tour will be given time to reflect and pray as part of their religious tour experience.
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
We begin our tour with a visit to one of the oldest Churches dedicated to Theotokos (Mother of God) in Rome - the Basilica of St Mary Major - containing, beneath its main altar, wood from the manger in which the baby Jesus once lay. The church adorned by every era of Italian art history even holds the body of the devout baroque master artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Basilica di Santa Prassede
We then walk over to the Basilica of Santa Prassede, with its fabulous 9th century mosaics and most importantly the stone pillar on which Jesus was scourged brought from the Praetorium in Jerusalem to Rome in the 13th century.
WALKING TOUR: Tour has some long distances between churches, NOT recommended for people with limited mobility.
GOLFCART: This tour is more suitable for people with limited or restricted mobility who may not be able to walk long distances.
Expert local guide
Entry to each site included in the tour
Some temporary exhibitions and special events may be excluded
Food and Drink
Gratuities
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
20 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Faiz A,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
Daniel was great knew lots of amazing things, great sense of humor. However our last stop didn’t have any relics available- we were kinda sad about that
Elizabeth W,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
My husband and I attended this tour for our honeymoon, wanting to learn more about the Passion of the Christ and the rich history and artifacts that exist in this city. We are not fans of big crowds or large tourist attractions, lines, etc. so that led us to select this experience. Daniel was such an amazing tour guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable on a vast amount of topics, and exceeded our expectations. This tour felt off the beaten path and a unique way to experience Rome and the history of Christianity. It truly felt sacred and special, and we learned so much and left inspired to discover more. The churches were INCREDIBLY beautiful and breathtaking. Highly recommend experiencing this tour!
Kevin T,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
A thorough and fascinating tour! We saw so much in a relatively short amount of time and our guide was so full of knowledge (and humor). Highly recommend!
Suzanne N,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
Our guide, Daniel, was fantastic! The tour was a highlight of our trip to Rome! Daniel knew all of the history and backstories of the relics, the churches, the surrounding areas! Unfortunately, none of the relics at Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme were available. We wish Viator had alerted Daniel/us to this so we could have adjusted our expectations before we started the tour.
Janine N,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
Really wonderful tour. Paul is such a knowledgeable guide. It was very much the highlight of our trip to Rome.
Jennifer P,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
We enjoyed seeing all of the relics but climbing the Scala Santa was especially memorable and humbling. Our guide, John, was so personable and informative. It's very obvious he is passionate about history and this makes him a great guide!
Carrie R,Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
Wonderful experience! Daniel was so informative and the basilicas toured and relics experienced were simply amazing.
Anonymous,Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
We had no idea that these churches and relics of Christ existed. It’s the tour that every Catholic person should take.
S9372MZrobertr,Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Daniel was an incredible tour guide - extremely knowledgeable and informative. This was a once in a lifetime experience and very highly recommended!
chloefL9826TO,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
Our tour guide was Daniel. We loved this tour. We were able to see all of the relics from Jesus’s life. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and overall it was a pleasant experience!
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