Relics from Passion of the Christ Tour in Rome
Description
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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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
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.
Continue on to the Holy Steps on which Jesus was judged by Pontius Pilate, transported to Rome in the 4th century by St Helena. Although we won't have time to ascend the stairs on our knees according to the pilgrim tradition, we will also peer into the Holy of Holies at the top to see the icon painted by the Gospel writer, St Luke.
We visit the Cathedral of Rome, the Basilica of Saint John Lateran (San Giovanni Laterano) to marvel at the architectural design of Borromini and understand the symbolism and history of the stunning mosaic. Your expert guide will then point out the place above the high altar where the skulls of Saints Peter and Paul rest.
From there you will continue to the climax of the tour and one of the most holy places in the world - the Basilica of the Holy Cross - built on earth brought from Calvary in the 4th century. Learn the history about the artifacts of Jesus' passion and death that were brought to Rome and finally enter to see fragments of the Holy Sepulcher and the Cave of Bethlehem, a Nail of The Crucifixion, a 2 Thorns of The Crown Thorns, the small walnut board reading Jesus the Nazarene king of the Jews and the wood of the Cross Jesus was crucified on
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(19)
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!
Ciao! Thank you so much for your detailed review, it was a pleasure to read about your experience with us. We are glad that you enjoyed the tour, and we are looking forward to seeing you again in the future!
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!
Ciao Kevin! Many thanks for your kind words. We are so glad you enjoyed the tour with us. Daniel is an awesome guide and one who knows how to make a tour engaging and memorable. We hope to see you back in Rome soon. Safe travels!
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.
Ciao, We are glad that you enjoyed the tour with Daniel, he is an awesome guide indeed. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Hope to see you soon in the future too! Kind regards, RomanVacations
Really wonderful tour. Paul is such a knowledgeable guide. It was very much the highlight of our trip to Rome.
Ciao Janine, Thank you so much for your kind review, we are delighted that you enjoyed the tour with our tour guide! Safe travels! Kind regards, RomanVacations
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!
Ciao Jennifer! May thanks for your kind words. We are so glad you enjoyed the tour with us. We make sure to only work with the best guides available. We hope to see you back in Rome soon. Safe travels!
Wonderful experience! Daniel was so informative and the basilicas toured and relics experienced were simply amazing.
Ciao Carrie! Many thanks for your kind words. We are so glad you enjoyed your tour with Daniel. He is a wonderful guide and a total sweetheart to boot. We hope to see you back in Rome soon. Safe travels!
We had no idea that these churches and relics of Christ existed. It’s the tour that every Catholic person should take.
Ciao! Many thanks for your kind words. We are so glad you enjoyed the tour and discovered something new. We aim to give unforgettable expereinces and we are so glad we have achieved that. We hope to see you back in Rome soon. Safe travels!
Daniel was an incredible tour guide - extremely knowledgeable and informative. This was a once in a lifetime experience and very highly recommended!
Ciao! Many thanks for your kind words. We are so glad you enjoyed the tour with Daniel! He is a wonderful guide with a true connection to these sites and relics. We hope to see you back in Rome soon. Safe travels!
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!
Ciao! Many thanks for your kind words. Daniel is a wonderful guide and a total sweetheart who will do whatever he can to make sure those on his tours enjoy themselves. We hope to see you back in Rome soon. Safe travels!
The guide was very well read and gave insight into Christian history. A review of Jesus Christ relics and historical sites.
Ciao! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! It was a pleasure to have you on the tour!