Holy Doors Rome Tour – Rome’s Four Major Basilicas in One Day: St Peter, St Paul, St Mary Major and St John Lateran
In anticipation of the opening of the Holy Doors throughout the Holy Year of the Jubileum in 2025, Crucis Holy Doors Rome Tour offers the unforgettable experience of visiting all four of Rome’s Major Basilicas in one day. Pilgrims who enter the Holy Doors of all four Major Basilicas can receive a Partial Indulgence under the normal conditions.
“May pilgrimage be an impetus to conversion: by crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, we will find the strength to embrace God’s mercy and dedicate ourselves to being merciful with others as the Father has been with us.”
– Pope Francis, 20th November 2015.
Make your pilgrimage with the Crucis Holy Doors Rome Tour in 2025! In the intervening period leading up to the Holy Year, Crucis Tours is delighted to offer the experience of visiting and learning about all four of the Eternal City’s most important churches. As ever, our Catholic guide offers unique insights not often found with mainstream tour companies.
The Major Basilicas are the highest ranking churches in the world and four of them are located in Rome. The most important is San Giovanni–the Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran–also known simply as the Cathedral of Rome and as such, the Mother Church of the world.
Common parlance frequently confuses Major Basilicas with Papal Basilicas, and while three of Rome’s Major Basilicas (St Peter’s, St Paul’s and St Mary Major) are both Major and Papal, the terms do signify different things, as our expert guide will explain.
The Crucis Holy Doors Rome Tour is an exciting 4½ hours (minimum) in four separate locations, beginning at St Peter’s before taking private transport to St Paul’s, St John Lateran and finally ending at St Mary Major. In this time we’ll pay homage to the remains of St Paul, the skulls of both Saints Peter and Paul and the relics of the crib of Christ, not to mention the icon of Mary by St Luke.
This is an essential tour for pilgrims to Rome for the Jubilee Holy Year, as is our flagship Via Crucis Tour, which reveals such relics as the nails from Christ’s crucifixion, thorns from His crown and wood from His Cross. The Via Crucis Tour departs from St Mary Major every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 3.00pm.
For those who wish to only do individual Major Basilicas, then we also offer the standalone Holy Door tours of each Major Basilica – the Basilica of St Peter Tour, the Cathedral of St John Lateran Tour, the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls Tour and the Basilica of St Mary Major Tour.
To learn more about the true Catholic faith, visit Crucis.cc.
| MEETING POINT | Obelisk in the centre of St Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro) | ||||
| END POINT | Basilica of St Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) | ||||
| DEPARTURE TIME | 8:00 am Tuesday & Thursdays | ||||
| DURATION | Approx. 4.5-6 hours (depending on number of pilgrims) | ||||
| 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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St Peter's Basilica (San Pietro)
Inside St Peter’s our expert Catholic guide will lead you around the interior of the basilica to Michelangelo’s Pietà, the relics and altars of the major saints of the Catholic church and the body of St Peter, buried beneath the high altar.
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo)
You then travel by air-conditioned car to St Paul’s on the other side of town, wherein lie the remains of the great Apostle of the Gentiles. You will see the chains that bound St Paul during his incarceration and house arrest here in Rome before also viewing his recently excavated sarcophagus.
Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran (San Giovanni)
The Cathedral of Rome: here, you’ll enjoy an in-depth tour of the basilica’s interior and learn all about its fascinating history, including the story of the ancient mosaics. The heads of Saints Peter and Paul were brought into the basilica and placed above the altar in the year 1300.
Basilica of St Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore)
Finally we’ll visit St Mary Major in the heart of the historical centre of Rome, with its famed golden interior and extraordinary features, including the miraculous icon of Salus Populi Romani. Numerous popes are buried here and the relics of the crib of the nativity of Christ rests under the centre altar.
The obelisk in the centre of Piazza San Pietro – you really can’t miss it!
Tour Reviews
We wanted to see all of the 4 Major basilicas but because they’re spread out around the city, it was great to be able to do them all in one day with private transport between them. The Basilicas were truly awe-inspiring and each with their own particular character that I wasnt expecting. Our guide was utterly amazing. I couldn’t believe how much information he knew and his entertaining style made this long tour an absolute delight. I cant recommend this tour more highly.
Unveiling Rome’s Spiritual Tapestry: A Journey with Tom of Crucis Tours
Our pilgrimage to Rome was a journey of the soul, guided by the knowledgeable and personable Tom of Crucis Tours. As we reflect on our unforgettable experience, it becomes clear that Tom’s expertise in Catholic theology, combined with his warm demeanor, curated an exploration of Rome’s spiritual treasures unlike any other.
From the moment we met Tom, we sensed a deep reverence for the city’s history and the faith it embodies. His background in Catholic theology added layers of understanding to every stop on our itinerary, transforming each site into a living testament to centuries of religious devotion. With Tom as our guide, Rome ceased to be merely a city of stone and marble; it became a sacred landscape, rich with stories of saints and martyrs.
Tom’s passion for his work was evident in every aspect of our tour. He seamlessly blended historical facts with personal anecdotes, inviting us to see Rome through his eyes and encouraging us to engage with its spiritual significance. Whether we were marveling at the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica or tracing the footsteps of ancient pilgrims along the Via Appia, Tom’s insights transformed each moment into a profound encounter with the divine.
What truly set Tom apart was his ability to make the experience personal. He took the time to get to know each member of our group, tailoring the tour to our individual interests and questions. His genuine warmth and hospitality made us feel like cherished companions on a sacred journey, deepening our connection to both the city and to each other.
As we bid farewell to Rome, we carried with us not only memories of its breathtaking beauty but also a deeper understanding of our own faith. Thanks to Tom and Crucis Tours, we walked away from our pilgrimage with hearts full of gratitude and souls nourished by the rich spiritual tapestry of Rome.
In conclusion, if you’re seeking a pilgrimage to Rome that is both enlightening and enriching, look no further than a tour with Tom of Crucis Tours. His expertise, passion, and personal touch ensure an experience of a lifetime—one that will forever remain etched in your heart and soul.
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