Religious Life Trastevere Walking Tour – An Exhilarating Walk Around Stunning Medieval Rome
The Crucis Religious Life Trastevere Walking Tour is a spectacular jaunt around one of Rome’s most characteristic neighbourhoods surpassed in beauty only by its fascinating history through the centuries.
When the Western Roman Empire fell in the late 5th century AD, the relative stability it had imposed upon Europe faltered. Having only been officially Christian for less than a century, the fabric of society began to unravel, heralding a time of moral disarray termed by some as the ‘Dark Ages’.
This was also the moment in history that the young St Benedict of Nursia travelled to Rome from his home in Umbria to complete his studies. So appalled by the moral degradation he witnessed, Benedict soon left the city and lived as a hermit for three years in a cave. The man who emerged from that cave would go on to be generally regarded as the father of western monasticism, thanks to his life’s most influential work, The Rule of St Benedict.
Join us on this captivating Trastevere walking tour around some of the most stunningly beautiful sights that Rome – and particularly Trastevere – has to offer, keeping in our hearts at all times the message of St Benedict, as we observe the fruits of his labour in the monastic traditions and the architecture of the medieval city.
Credited by Pope Benedict with having helped the world to emerge from a “dark night of history”, St Benedict inspired the Benedictine Order whose influence upon the world after the demise of Rome still surrounds us to this day.
It was from this foundation of enclosure and community that the religious life flowered into apostolic works of charity in the 12th century and beyond. Along this tour through the medieval streets your expert guide will open your minds to this evolution with some amazing stories of the characters that shaped this progression.
An extremely romantic and scenic tour, you will end at the ancient Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere from whence you can enjoy a traditional meal in the many surrounding restaurants or simply and pleasant aperitivo to soak it all in.
If you like the Crucis Rome Religious Life Trastevere Walking Tour, you’ll love our Early Christianity tour every Friday at 9.00am.
Free Cancellation for those who act early enough.
To learn more about the Catholic faith, visit Crucis.cc.
| MEETING POINT | Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, to the left of the famous keyhole | ||||
| END POINT | Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere | ||||
| DEPARTURE TIME | 3:30pm Tuesdays | ||||
| 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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| Day of the Week | Tuesday, Saturday |
St Anselm on the Aventine (Sant'Anselmo sul'Aventino)
We’ll begin the Crucis Religious Life Trastevere Walking Tour at St Anselm on the Aventine, known more commonly by the Italian Sant’Anselmo all’Aventino. This charming and serene inner-city abbey consists of the Church of St Anselm, the ecclesiastical college of the same name and pontifical university, all overseen by the Benedictine Confederation.
The Keyhole at the Knights of Malta
Two minutes’ walk beyond St Anselm brings us to one of Rome’s better known tourist sights, the Keyhole of the Knights of Malta. Peering through this famous keyhole reveals the dome of St Peter’s as well as unique panorama that encompasses no less than three different countries: the Vatican city-state, the grounds of the Maltese embassy and of course, Italy.
Basilica of St Alexis (Sant'Alessio)
Satiated by our viewing of three nations at the same time, we’ll continue our Crucis St Benedict Trastevere Walking Tour at the Basilica of St Alexis right next door, where we’ll learn more about the development of religious life through that of St Alexis.
Basilica of St Sabina
Immediately next door again is the Basilica of St Sabina, one of the oldest ecclesiastical basilicas in Rome and famous for its restrained design. Lacking the ornate beauty of many more famous churches, Santa Sabina is the mother house of the Dominican Order. Here we continue to learn about the development of religious life and the principles that guide it. The Basilica of St Sabina also features what is possibly the first ever publicly displayed depiction of the Crucifixion.
Orange Garden
Next up it’s time for some of the freshest and most fragrant air in Rome as we visit the famed Giardino degli Aranci. The perfect pitstop and photo opportunity, this tiny yet utterly charming park offers vast panoramic city views with the dome of St Peter’s again in centre stage.
Circus Maximus
Though it has nothing to do with St Benedict, it would be a dreadful shame to pass so close to one of the most famous sites in ancient Rome without stopping for a moment to take it in. Circus Maximus was a grandiose chariot racetrack and the largest stadium in ancient Rome, situated under the imposing shadow of the Palatine Hill.
The Mouth of Truth
Another of Rome’s more famous landmarks, legend has it that the Bocca della Verità will bite the hands off liars brazen enough to tempt it. Though no episodes of the kind have been reported in recent years, millions annually test the mercy of this ancient and mysterious marble face, said to have probably been a drain cover from a 1st century BC pagan temple.
Basilica of St Mary in Cosmedin (Santa Maria in Cosmedin)
Less famous than the Mouth of Truth that resides in its portico, the Basilica of St Mary in Cosmedin, which follows the Benedictine tradition, dates back to the 8th century when Rome’s popes served under the authority of the Byzantine Emperors in Constantinople. Inside the basilica we’ll catch a peek at the skull of St Valentine, the early Christian martyr and famed patron saint of engaged lovers and happy marriages.
Basilica of St. Bartholomew on the Island (San Bartolomeo all'Isola)
Crossing to the Tiber Island in the middle of the river, we’ll visit what was once the home and is now the final resting place of the apostle St Bartholomew, now under the impressive basilica built in his name in the 8th century. The island is also home to one of the most important Vatican-run hospitals in the city, under the patronage of St John of God, founder of another religious order and a saint with an incredible life story.
Church of St Benedict in Piscinula (San Benedetto in Piscinula)
Next we’ll leave the Tiber Island and cross the river once more to the other side (literally tras-Tevere). This famous and quintessentially Roman neighbourhood is home to the 12th century church built upon the site where St Benedict resided for that brief period before becoming a hermit.
St Cecilia in Trastevere
One of the true gems of the characteristic neighbourhood of Trastevere is the stunning 5th century church dedicated to the 3rd century martyr St Cecilia and built over her home. This famous Rome church is curated by Benedictine nuns from the monastery of the same name next door. This aspect of the tour journeys underground into the archaeological dig below the basilica and culminates in seeing the relics of St Cecilia.
Basilica of Our Lady (Santa Maria) in Trastevere
We conclude the Crucis St Benedict Trastevere Walking Tour at another of the area’s more famous landmarks and one of the oldest standing churches in Rome (now that’s really saying something!). Perhaps the first church in Rome ever to be dedicated to Our Lady, Santa Maria in Trastevere was initially founded in secret over 1,900 years ago and was rebuilt in 340 by Pope Julius I following the legalisation of Christianity in the Roman Empire.
In the heart of one of the city’s most atmospheric piazzas, we’ll leave you to reflect upon the life and legacy of St Benedict and take some welcome respite in one of the numerous Roman trattorias and bars nearby.
In the large space of Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta (next to the famous keyhole!).
Tour Reviews
Oh how beautiful! This tour is an attack on the senses, much like Rome itself! How can so many beautiful things be concentrated into such a small area? Our guide (don’t remember his name, jolly fella!) was so passionate and the tour took well longer than it was programmed to. Well worth every moment though. Crucis Tours, we will be coming back next year with more people from our congregation! Bless you all!
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.
I recently had the pleasure of joining this walking tour of Rome’s most beautiful religious sites, and it was truly unforgettable. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging and very passionate. We visited nothing but hidden gems – breathtaking. The pace was also perfect, allowing time for reflection and photos. This tour is a must-do for anyone wanting to explore a lesser known side to Rome. Highly recommended!
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