Rediscovering the tradition of the Seven Churches Pilgrimage

Among the itineraries within the city of Rome, being offered to pilgrims arriving in the city for the Holy Year, there is the historic tradition of the ‘Seven Churches Pilgrimage’. This pilgrimage, an idea of St Philip Neri in the 16th century, is an old Roman tradition. It covers about 25 kilometers and winds through the whole city, reaching out into the Roman countryside and the catacombs and involves visits to some of the most magnificent basilicas in Rome.

The suggested itinerary starts from the Vatican, more precisely from St. Peter's Basilica, the heart of Christianity, where, according to the tradition of the Church, is found the tomb of the Apostle Peter. It winds its way through the city towards the cathedral of Rome, St John Lateran’s, residence of the Popes from the 4th to the 14th century. Next stop is the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, also built by the Emperor Constantine on the site where St. Paul was buried. The fourth stop is St Mary Major’s Basilica, whose construction, according to tradition, was requested of the Pope by Our Lady herself in a dream in 358 AD.

From the Esquiline district, we move to the Basilica of St Laurence Outside the walls, which stands on the site of the martyrdom of the Spanish deacon Laurence. The itinerary then sees pilgrims head towards the Roman Basilica known as Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Santa Croce in Gerusalemme) which, thanks to Saint Helen, the mother of Constantine, today holds relics of the Cross of Christ and of his Passion. The last stop is the Basilica of Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls, where, in the neighboring catacombs, are to be found the remains of the saint.

For all information on the itinerary, consult the website