The Essential Via Crucis Catholic Pilgrim Tour of Rome and the Relics of Christ
Our Via Crucis Catholic Pilgrim tour is the most important tour for Christian pilgrims to Rome along with our Holy Doors Rome Pilgrim tour during the year of the Jubilee and beyond. Designed for devout pilgrims in the Jubilee Year, this unforgettable religious journey takes you to the most holy destinations in Rome, Italy, to see the most holy relics of Jesus’ “Way of the Cross” – the Via Crucis – and His Passion.
In 326 AD, the mother of Emperor Constantine, St Helena, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the Holy Land. On her return, with the blessing of the Bishop of Jerusalem, she transported the most holy Relics of the Passion of Christ.
Over the centuries, more Catholic artefacts have been added, such that this pilgrim tour now offers pilgrims the chance to venerate:
- The wood of the crib of the baby Jesus
- The Holy Steps upon which Jesus was judged by Pontius Pilate*
- The Holy Pillar that Jesus was scourged upon
- Two thorns from the Crown of Thorns
- Earth from Calvary / Golgotha, the mound in which the True Cross was discovered
- A piece of the Most Holy True Cross upon which Jesus was crucified
- A Holy Nail from Jesus’ Crucifixion
- The Holy Wooden Board / Titulus fixed to the Cross that proclaimed ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews‘
- Fragments of the Holy Stone from the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was buried, and from the Cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem
- An icon reputed to have been painted by St Luke the Evangelist
- Arguably the most famous icon in the world, Our Mother of Perpetual Succour/Help
At the end of the tour, your guide will also seek to explain how the journey of Jesus and His Way of the Cross is applicable to each of our own lives on our personal journey to our own Calvary. For those who were attentive in the tour you will learn of the great richness of the lessons our forefathers have left us in the architecture, art and relics, to guide us to take the narrow way of salvation, and your guide will hint at the meaning of life!!
*Important: although this tour takes pilgrims to the Holy Steps, and shows the Holy of Holies room at the top, unfortunately our itinerary does not allow time to ascend the Holy Steps on one’s knees, as this can take around 45 minutes. Those interested in partaking in this tradition should arrange to do so privately.
** Please Note: This is a 3 hour walking tour and not suitable for those with mobility or stamina issues. Nevertheless, it is the best tour in Rome in our opinion, so if you do suffer from those issues and still wish to do the tour, then you may consider a private tour with some transport options. Contact us for a quote.
Read the Itinerary tab to learn how important this tour is for religious Christian pilgrims to Rome and visit our other main pilgrim tours of the Saints Peter and Paul tour, the Underground Basilicas of St Clement tour, and the St Peter’s Basilica tour. For those who enjoy walking through the beautiful city of Rome, you may also enjoy our Religious Life Trastevere Walking Tour!
You may also be interested in our sister site crucis.cc to learn about the spiritual significance of pilgrimage and pilgrim tours.
| MEETING POINT | The fountain in front of the entrance of St Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore) under the large column. (Please note, the front of the basilica faces south-east, away from Via Cavour).
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| FINISHING LOCATION | Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem (Basilica di Santa Croce) | ||||
| DEPARTURE TIME | 3:00pm (Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays) | ||||
| DURATION | Approx. 3 hours | ||||
| DRESS CODE | Comfortable clothing, covering shoulders and knees | ||||
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Additional information
| Ticket Type | Adult (16+), Student ID, Child (under 16) |
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Basilica of St Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore)
We begin the Via Crucis Pilgrim Tour with a visit to one of the oldest churches dedicated to Theotokos (Mother of God) in Rome, the Basilica of St Mary Major. St Mary Major is one of the four Major Basilicas of Rome and contains, amongst other things, wood from the crib in which the baby Jesus lay. This magnificent church, adorned by every epoch of Italian art history, even holds the body of the devout baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini and an icon reputed to have been painted by St Luke himself.
Basilica of St Praxedes (Santa Prassede)
We then walk over to the Basilica of St Praxedes, which dates back to the 1st Century AD but was rebuilt in the 8th century. Santa Prassede holds some of the finest examples of medieval Christian mosaic art, but its greatest treasure is the sacred pillar upon which Christ was flogged.
Church of Sant'Alfonso Maria de' Liguori
Next we enter the Church of San Alfonso Ligouri to see the most recognisable icon in the world, the beautiful 15th century Byzantine ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Succour’, also known as ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help’, the ‘Virgin of the Passion’ and ‘Theotokos of the Passion’.
Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta)
After San Alfonso Ligouri we make our way to the Church of the Holy Stairs, brought from Jerusalem by St Helena (mother of Roman Emperor Constantine) and so named because they are the steps which led to the praetorium of the then Roman procurator – Pontius Pilot. Since Our Lord Jesus descended those very steps in condemnation, it is the ancient practice for Christians to ascend the steps on their knees. However, due to the time constraints this involves, the guide will explain the history of the Holy Steps and the Holy of Holies at their summit, but not partake in the tradition. Pilgrims of course are welcome to do this at their leisure outside of the tour.
Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano)
Our penultimate destination on the Via Crucis Pilgrim Tour is the Cathedral of Rome, otherwise known as the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, where your expert guide will recount the fascinating history of the cathedral and point out the sacred relics of the heads of Saints Peter and Paul, the Pillars of the Church.
Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Santa Croce in Gerusalemme)
At the fountain in front of the Basilica of St Mary Major
Tour Reviews
The tour was outstanding! We got to see so many things and details in the churches/basilicas we visited! Our guide gave us so many insights to the art and the history behind it, that it made us feel being experts on the field!!! We are glad to have chosen this tour letting us visit exceptional places, we would have missed otherwise….
We booked this tour after experiencing the St. Peter and St. Paul Tour (which was wonderful). We enjoyed our initial tour so much, we booked this tour a few days later. We were pleasantly surprised to have Tom as our guide again. He is incredible–his immense wealth of knowledge of history and art again was impressive, but for this tour he arrived for our tour after being hit by a car–no joke–that is dedication and commitment. The thing that made this tour special were the number of holy relics we encountered. Seeing items that were part of the life of Jesus was awe-inspiring and humbling. Tom also told us about the early church and miracles that shaped Christian life. Other tours in Rome spend a great deal of time on the pagans and Romans, but little on Christians and their vital role in shaping the history of Rome and beyond. This tour was amazing–highly recommended!!
Tom’s mastery of Catholic theology continued to shine brightly as we embarked on our subsequent adventures. With each tour, he revealed new layers of insight into Rome’s spiritual heritage, enriching our understanding of its sacred sites and traditions. Whether we were exploring the catacombs beneath the city or tracing the path of the ancient apostles, Tom’s passion for his work illuminated our path, transforming each moment into a profound encounter with history and faith.
Yet it wasn’t just Tom’s knowledge that kept us coming back—it was his genuine warmth and hospitality. Despite our familiarity with Rome’s streets and landmarks, Tom made each tour feel fresh and exciting, as if we were experiencing it for the first time. His ability to tailor the experience to our interests and preferences ensured that no two tours were alike, leaving us eagerly anticipating our next adventure together.
In addition to his expertise and personal touch, Tom’s professionalism and attention to detail were evident in every aspect of our interactions with him. From the seamless booking process to the thoughtful gestures he made to enhance our experience, Tom went above and beyond to ensure that our time with Crucis Tours was nothing short of extraordinary.
As we reflect on our continued adventures with Tom, we are filled with gratitude for the memories we have created together. His passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on our hearts, and we look forward to many more adventures with him in the future.
In summary, if you’re searching for a guide who will elevate your travel experience to new heights, look no further than Tom of Crucis Tours. His expertise, warmth, and professionalism guarantee an unforgettable journey—one that will leave you longing for more long after the adventure has ended.
Booked this on the recommendation of an acquaintance who did it earlier in the year. It’s a unique tour experience because everything is presented from the perspective of a well-educated professing Catholic and, as such, there is far more to it than just the history (as fascinating as that is for those with or without the faith). Tom delves deep into the theological and spiritual significance of all the stops on the tour which makes it a profoundly edifying experience for a believer.
Thanks so much Andre! It was a pleasure having you and your family along!
Wow! Tom was an amazing guide and brought the life of Christ and the early church to us in a way my children ages 8, 10, 12, 14 could all relate to and appreciate. If you want the Catholic experience and need help understanding the symbolism in art and churches in a beautifully crafted way book this tour. It was the best tour we had all Holy Week! I cried and laughed and appreciated his reverence at the holy sites. As pilgrims we were gifted spiritual knowledge that will last a lifetime. He wrapped the tour up with a final message that filled my eyes with tears of understanding and gratitude. I wish I’d booked all of his tours. Thank you Tom, you are a true blessing and we thank you for sharing your gift with our family.
The best part of our week long trip. My dad is a pretty religious man, and I was slightly less religious, but this was a perfect tour. Our guide Tom knew everything about every church, about every painting and relic, and even other facts about Rome in general. I would recommend this to everyone who comes to Rome. Even if you’re not Catholic or Christian at all, this is such an interesting and informative tour. I would easily pay double for this tour, and it was literally life changing.
If you want an authentically Catholic tour of some of Rome’s most important churches, look no further than Tom’s Via Crucis Tour. Although I had visited the churches on this tour multiple times, re-visiting them with such a knowledgable guide gave them newfound importance. The tour beautifully integrated history, architecture, and theology, and made truly made the faith come alive. There were many ‘aha’ moments where truths of the faith that I had heard my whole life were understood in a whole new way, as I experienced them concretely in church architecture. Thank you Tom!
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