The beautiful city of Rome is full of marvelous churches having awesome artworks and detailed construction. Most of these churches are open all day long while a few of them close for some hours in the afternoon. In addition, some of the churches also have their own cloisters, museums, or archaeological sites, which are open to visitors.

You are always expected to keep silence and be respectful while inside the church. Besides, you are also expected to remove your caps, while some churches in Rome do not permit wearing sleeveless tops or shorts. Cameras are allowed in most of the churches here, but with a few restrictions. Below are the top 3 churches that you must visit while on Rome City Tours.

Basilica San Giovanni

This basilica is referred to as Basilica di San Giovanni as well, while some call it Basilica of St. John Lateran too. The basilica is located near the city center’s south, and is the oldest among the most important basilicas in Rome. Another important thing to note is that the cedar table, which is used as the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament here, is believed to be have used by Christ during the Last Supper. Note that only the Pope is permitted to use the High Altar.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica located in Rome is a holy Catholic shrine that is visited by millions of pilgrims and tourists each year. This basilica was actually built upon St. Peter’s tomb. It is also one of the largest churches in the world with an area of 22,300 square meters and a capacity to hold over 60,000 people. The basilica has two levels underneath it: the first level is Vatican Grottoes, which is an underground graveyard with tombs of 91 Popes, while the second level is Vatican Necropolis, where the St. Peter’s tomb resides.

Santa Maria Maggiore

This Catholic basilica is regarded as the largest of all churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The legend says that the apparition of Virgin Mary gave the Pope all the instructions regarding the construction of this church. Apparently, this basilica is also an architectural masterpiece. As you enter the church, you would be able to see impressive mosaics, coffered golden ceilings, triumphal arch, and a lot more. This basilica is known by many names like Saint Mary of the Snow, Santa Maria Liberiana, St. Mary of the Nativity, and Santa Maria Maggiore. It also has a museum, which houses many priceless ancient masterpieces.