Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola is one of the most breathtaking churches in Rome and an easy place…read moreto overlook if you are simply walking through the city. We walked up to a facade that appears relatively modest from the outside, the kind of church that might not catch your attention unless you knew what was waiting inside. But stepping through the doors revealed an incredible Baroque interior filled with ornate details, marble, gold accents, and stunning works of art that immediately made the stop feel worthwhile. The highlight is undoubtedly the famous ceiling fresco, which creates an astonishing illusion of a towering dome and soaring architecture where none actually exists. We stood in the marked viewing spot and watched the perspective shift, the trompe l'oeil effect so convincing that it took a moment to register that the dome was painted. It is one of those details that is even more impressive in person, and it is worth taking a few minutes to fully appreciate the craftsmanship. The church also has a mirror setup that lets you admire the ceiling without straining your neck, though we noticed it often attracted a line of visitors waiting for a turn. Despite being a popular attraction, the church still managed to feel peaceful, especially since we visited outside of the busiest hours. The side chapels offered quieter corners to pause, and the overall energy of the space remained calm even with other visitors moving through. Admission is free, which made it one of the best values among Rome's many historic landmarks, and the location, within walking distance of several major attractions, made it an easy addition to a day of exploring the historic center. If you are exploring central Rome, this is an easy stop that absolutely deserves a place on your itinerary. The remarkable ceiling alone makes it one of the city's most memorable churches, and it is a great reminder that some of Rome's most impressive sights are hidden behind relatively simple facades.

Honestly, save your time and your one euro coin. The church…read moreitself is beautiful, but the entire experience has been completely ruined by social media hype. We waited in line for a literal hour just to reach the famous "selfie mirror" to get a photo with the ceiling fresco. When you finally get to the front, you have to pay 1 euro, and you're rushed through it so fast you can barely even check if the photo turned out.

We arrived in Rome by train in the early evening, but we wanted to make the most of the remainder…read moreof our day. We took a bus over and ate a quick dinner nearby before getting in line for the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore 30 minutes before closing. Entrance is free. There is a security check before entering and the line moved pretty quickly. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four basilicas in Rome and it is dedicated to honoring the Virgin Mary. Tradition holds that the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to a wealthy Roman couple and Pope Liberius, instructing them to build a church where snow would miraculously fall in August. The next morning, August 5th snow reportedly blanketed the Esquiline Hill, marking the site of the basilica. Every August 5th, white rose petals are dropped from the ceiling to celebrate the "Miracle of the Snow." The interior was absolutely stunning. From the ceiling to the walls, and all of the paintings and sculptures were magnificent. This basilica houses some of the oldest representations of the Virgin Mary in art. It also holds the holy crib relic that contains pieces of the manger where Jesus was laid. This was the first basilica we visited in Rome and we also saw how there were multiple confession boxes with a Priest assigned and their language and hours. Very modern. I guess that helps with people of all ethnic backgrounds coming to Rome for their religious pilgrimages. I was so impressed by this basilica when we visited, but to be honest I am so glad we came here before seeing St Peter's Basilica because I would have been underwhelmed by compare if I went there first. I recommend coming here before going to St. Peter's Basilica so you can feel impressed here, and then even more impressed at St Peter's Basilica.

Such a special moment getting to pay our respects & visit the resting place of Pope Frances during…read moreThe 2025 Jubilee (on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 4:30pm) at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) when my husband & I were visiting Rome, Italy for the 2nd time (09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025). Even though, this was our 2nd time in Rome, we had not previously visited the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore so for sure it was on the itinerary as a must-do for a few special reasons - - ---- Final resting place of Pope Frances after his death in April 2025. The Pope requested his tomb to very simple w/ only the inscription of "Franciscus" & it is exactly that, which only makes it even more special. During our visit (Thursday, 09/25/25) there was a line to get in however, we only had to wait about 20 mins before getting inside the basilica. I did want to mention that when we walked by a few days later on a Saturday, the line to get in was so much longer than it was just a few days before during the weekday so definitely plan your visit for a weekday, if possible. --- Holy Door : There is a Holy Door located at this basilica, which is only opened every 25 years during the Jubilee years and 2025 is a Jubilee year so we were able to walk through the open Holy Door when we visited on 09/25/2025. You don't have to be Catholic and/or religious to walk through the holy door and trust me, it is a very special moment for all who walk through the holy door at this grand basilica. Fyi(s): -- - Security line: during our visit, we did have to go through security screening before entering the basilica however, I don't know if this was because it was a Jubilee year and/or if this is how it will be even after it is no longer a Jubilee year now that Pope Frances is buried at this basilica. (I guess I'll have to make a 3rd trip to Rome do I can give an update on this review! :)) -- - Be respectful w/ no photos/videos inside the basilica. This one always rubs me the wrong way, when there are signs clearly posted both outside and inside a basilica stating that no pics/videos are allowed and this basilica even had an attendant near Pope Frances's stone, trying to enforce this however, people kept taking photos and videos. Please note that the pics/videos, included w/ this review were taken of the outside. -- - Free to visit : No appointment is needed to visit & it is free however, I do recommend that you take some money w/ you so you can give an offering during your visit. Hope this info helps! Rebecca visiting from Austin, Texas (USA) 09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025

Rome is full of surprises and this beautiful Baroque church is a fine example…read more On our way from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain, my mother suddenly needed to use the restroom. In haste, I went into this church without knowing where this was in search for my mother's relief. In this small church, what I greeted me was this stunningly beautiful and colorful Baroque fresco in the central altar flanked by Bernini's angelic sculptures. Sant'Andrea delle Fratte - St. Andrew in the Woods - proves that not all churches had to be as massive as St Peter's Basilica or as iconic as the Florence Duomo to impress. If you are traversing between Rome's top two attractions, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, I highly recommend stepping into this church to catch a glimpse of beauty! Anyway, there was no restroom here so we had to turn elsewhere. However, this church shall remain in my memory as one of the most beautiful churches I have seen.

There are churches on every corner in Rome and each one has so much art and history and so much to…read moresee This one is small inside compared to others but located down from the Spanish steps

For me, this church punches up with the major basilicas. It's not as big, but it's stunning and…read moreit's also not nearly as crowded, so you might actually...you know...get to pray. Especially if you like the Jesuits at all, you have to stop here. The ceiling is alive with textures. The sculptures are on point. Intense focus on Christ, with a great crucifix and a Sacred Heart chapel, too. The place of repose of St. Ignatius himself. This church is a wonder.

Rome is the place to go if you like visiting churches. There are many and they are well maintained…read more The difficulty is selecting those you have time to visit. Chiesa del Gesu is one you probably don't want to miss because of the bizarre (to me) way the the tomb of Ignacio Loyola is displayed. The tomb is hidden behind a giant picture which at 5:30 in the afternoon is rolled back by some mechanical device to reveal the tomb behind. This is accompanied by loud music and lights and is accompanied by an audience of worshippers waving their arms. Pretty over the top. Don't miss it. The rest of the church is pretty over the top also. Early baroque as I understand. Much too ornate for my taste but certainly worth seeing. I personally prefer more austerity but the Chiesa del Gesu is something I won't forget.

Buy a ticket online before you come, since we went by several times and there was always a long…read moreline. If you already have your online ticket, there was a very short line to the left to get inside. The Pantheon was built originally as a Roman temple and later changed into a church in the 7th century, so it is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome. The Oculus, circular opening at the top of the dome lets in light and rain. The ceiling above is a work of art. Statues and art around the perimeter also delight the eyes. You can even pray at the pews in front of the altar. Inside, tombs of Raphael, Victor Emmanuel II, and Umberto I and others. Next to the Sistine Chapel, this was one of the most crowded places we visited.

In a city overflowing with ancient landmarks, the Pantheon is standout! The sheer height and girth…read moreof the structure is awe-inspiring. The building has survived nearly 2,000 years while empires, wars, and centuries. This structure was completed around 126 AD and still stands strong today. The pantheon speaks to craftsmanship and the importance of great work.

Right next to the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini (that rolls off the tongue…read morelike a Latin exam you didn't study for), this museum is part chapel, part crypt, and part humble brag for the Capuchin friars, the Franciscan branch known for vows of poverty, haircuts, and a surprising flair for interior bone design. Did we come to this museum to learn about the friars, Mmmmmm. Ok maybe. You'll walk through exhibits showing how these robed legends brewed up herbal potions, lived in literal caves, and humbly redefined the phrase less is more. We really came for the Caravaggio. Turn the corner, and there it is, the Caravaggio's "St. Francis in Meditation", just casually hanging there like it's no big deal. Spoiler: It is a big deal. This moody masterpiece punches you in the soul. Saint Francis looks like he's just remembered his iCloud password and is deeply not okay with it. Shadows engulf him, light hits him like a holy spotlight, and suddenly you're questioning all your life choices in front of a painting that's older than the United States. Caravaggio, ever the art world's tortured bad boy, painted like he lived, fast and bold, and usually on the run from the law. His contribution here adds gravitas to an already gravity-heavy museum, where death is literally the décor.

Also know as " The Crypt of the Capuchin Monks"…read more Absolutely creepy as hell, but worth every minute spent here. This place is fantastic. My wife, son and nephew and I thoroughly loved it. It can be a little hard to find, but all that's expected is a small donation and a promise not to take pictures. The ones that I've included are from their website and the Internet. Here's some additional information: "The crypt is located just under Santa Maria della Concezione, a church commissioned by Pope Urban VIII in 1626. The pope's brother, Cardinal Antonio Barberini, who was a member of the Capuchin order, in 1631 ordered the remains of thousands of Capuchin friars exhumed and transferred from the friary Via dei Lucchesi to the crypt. The bones were arranged along the walls, and the friars began to bury their own dead here, as well as the bodies of poor Romans, whose tomb was under the floor of the present Mass chapel. Here the Capuchins would come to pray and reflect each evening before retiring for the night. The crypt, or ossuary, now contains the remains of 4,000 friars buried between 1500 and 1870, during which time the Roman Catholic Church permitted burial in and under churches. The underground crypt is divided into five chapels, lit only by dim natural light seeping in through cracks, and small fluorescent lamps. The crypt walls are decorated with the remains in elaborate fashion, making this crypt a macabre work of art. Some of the skeletons are intact and draped with Franciscan habits, but for the most part, individual bones are used to create elaborate ornamental designs. The crypt originated at a period of a rich and creative cult for their dead; great spiritual masters meditated and preached with a skull in hand. A plaque in one of the chapels reads, in three languages, "What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be." This is a memento mori." Thank you Wikipedia. Well worth the visit, and there are some excellent restaurants close as well.

A Roman Catholic church in Rome, named after Saint Mary Magdalene…read more Located on the Via della Maddalena, one of the streets leading from the Piazza della Rotonda in the Campo Marzio area of historic Rome. The interior is architecturally complex, it has a Borrominesque elongated octagonal nave, with two chapels at each flank. To the right is the main chapel dedicated and holding the relics of Saint Camillus. In this Chapel the vault was frescoed by Sebastiano Conca. The church also has a Christ, Virgin, and St. Nicolas of Bari by Baciccia and a San Lorenzo Giustiniani with Infant Jesus by Luca Giordano.

This is an incredible church I stumbled across while meandering through the streets of rome this…read moreafternoon. The outside is very unassuming but inside it's breathtaking. There is so much gilded architecture every which way you turn, and even a mural painted by michaelangelo in a side room. The artwork here will blow your mind, don't miss out on this outstanding little church!

So you find yourself in Rome, gelato in hand, and you decide to go see a bunch of skeletons…read morearranged like a Pinterest goth wedding board. Enter The Capuchin Crypt. Let's rewind. The Capuchin monks, a branch of the Franciscan order known for simplicity, humility, and apparently, now, very creative bone usage, were given this space under the Santa Maria della Concezione church back in the 1600s. Instead of a basic crypt where bodies go to rest in peace, they went full Tim Burton and made six chapels decorated entirely with the bones of their fellow friars. Not just stacked neatly, no. We're talking chandeliers made of vertebrae. Wall mosaics of skulls. Pelvis patterns. It's like if Donatella Versace met a cemetery and just said screw it, let's make it fashion. And yes, these are real bones. Of real monks. Who used to have, you know, faces and be people. Kinda creepy if you ask me. I mean, did Brother Angelo think his femur would become part of a decorative arch? And another thought, should I be taking pictures of this? No judgment, though I guess. Death is inevitable. Skeleton chic? This is your spot.

I'm SO GLAD a friend recommended the Cappuchin Fryers Crypt to visit on our Rome trip! I bought…read moretickets online because most places sell out. They send a confirmation email but no actual ticket. You just show them your email when you arrive. There's a church above. First you go through the museum with an audio guide. There were many interesting exhibits. Then you get to go down the the crypts! I have never seen crypts decorate with skulls and bones in patterns! It was amazing! If you're going to Rome, visits this little gem!

lWe spent three nights at a hotel in the Piazza della Minerva and walked into this church because…read moreit was right there. After a week in Rome, we weren't surprised to find that this random neighborhood church was, in fact, an impressive basilica. Naturally, it has its own Wikipedia page. Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva, or the Basilica of Saint Mary above Minerva, is a minor basilica church, consecrated in 1370. It's a beautiful gothic church with a ton of art, including its own Michelangelo statue, the Cristo della Minerva. There was a helpful map showing where to find the art--though it was strangely bootleg, made with clipped print-outs and construction paper like a diligent child's school project. Unfortunately, the church was undergoing some kind of renovation when we went in, and a lot of the interior was inaccessible, including the area with the Michelangelo. The church was gorgeous, though, even with construction scaffolding all over the place. Lots of marble, which almost goes without saying, and a striking vaulted ceiling, painted bright blue with colorful religious figures and a sparkly smattering of gilded stars. We only went in for five to ten minutes, and I'm sure we missed plenty in this cursory visit. I'm glad we peeked in, though. It was a quick, rewarding thing to do on our last day of wandering around Rome. If you find yourself around Piazza della Minerva, the basilica is quiet and free and well worth checking out.

Absolutely must see if you're a fan of art and architecture…read more This spot is often overlooked because it's near the Pantheon. Not only does it have the famous elephant obelisk outside but inside it's amazing. It's the only church in Rome that's done in the gothic architecture style. Once inside, people often walk right past a genuine Michelangelo sculpture. Note- he did not cover Jesus up, that golden fabric looking part was later added due to the church wanting modesty.

The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs can be easily missed. It doesn't look like…read moremuch from the outside but the interior is beautiful. It was built in the 16th century based on a design by Michelangelo. The basilica is a fantastic construction with beautiful frescoes, paintings and sculptures. It is well worth visiting, you won't be disappointed.

Free admission and located in the Piazza della Repubblica, once a bath house and now a church…read more Honestly, we had no idea what we were going to experience when we walked inside, but we are so glad that we did. For starters it doesn't look like a church so when we went inside and realized that it was we were pleasantly surprised. It's stunning to say the least - something to look at in every corner so take your time. The vaulted ceilings, tiled floors, the marble. Every inch is incredible. Michelangelo left his mark here.