Saints Peter and Paul Tour in Rome – An Awe-inspiring Christian Pilgrim Tour
An essential experience for any pilgrim to the Eternal City of Rome is our Christian Saints Peter and Paul Tour, which follows the lives in Rome of Christ’s two most influential apostles. Sts Peter and Paul – known as the two pillars of the Church. You will learn how Saints Peter and Paul are eternally bound together both by their faith, their association together historically and liturgically, but also in their imprisonment and tribulations.
Your tour begins at the stupendous yet off-the-beaten-track Basilica of St Peter in Chains, close to the Colosseum in Rome’s famed Monti district. Here, in a reliquary below the altar are kept the chains that bound St Peter during his imprisonment in Jerusalem. The basilica is also home to the original Moses by Michelangelo.
You’ll then travel with your devout Catholic guide in chauffeur-driven car to the Abbey of the Three Fountains in the southern part of Rome, beyond the ancient city walls. The site of St Paul’s execution, this sacred complex reveals the pillar on which his head rested before decapitation and the three fountains that miraculously sprung up as it bounced along the ground and his body glowed with heavenly light.
The Christian Saints Peter and Paul Tour is a unique chance for pilgrims to discover the fascinating significance of the Holy Chains in a spiritual way, as devout Catholic guide explains how the Word of God cannot be restrained.
This extremely popular yet relatively new pilgrim tour explores the lives of the two apostles of Our Lord Jesus most closely connected with Rome and the pagan empire that ruled much of the known world during His time. We’ll see first hand original objects from their imprisonment and eventual executions in addition to artistic masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses.
The tour climaxes at the final resting place of the body of St Paul – in the magnificent Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls – one of the 4 Major Basilicas of Rome that are the most pertinent and important churches of Rome, especially during the Jubilee Year when pilgrims have the rare opportunity to pass through the Holy Door.
This unique Christian pilgrim tour is a must for all pilgrims and anyone interested in the apostles, the foundations of the Church and early Christian Rome.
Note that pilgrims wishing to pass through all four of the Holy Doors may do so with Crucis Tours – we offer standalone tours of each of the four Major Basilicas, as well as Pilgrim Packages covering St Phillip Neri’s Seven Pilgrim Churches and Assisi.
For a change of scenery, you may also be interested in the Religious Life Trastevere Walking Tour, an enchanting walk around the medieval city and some of its lesser known abbeys and churches. The best of our tours for those interested in early Christianity remains, without a doubt to be the Via Crucis Pilgrim Tour or the Early Christianity Tour!
Free Cancellation up to 24 hours before any tour, less the cost of any tickets or transport already procured on your behalf.
This tour fills up early as it is only available once per week so please book early to avoid disappointment.
| MEETING POINT |
To the right of the main entrance of the Basilica of St Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli), by the statue of Jesus depicted as a beggar. |
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| END POINT | Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica San Paolo) is where the Saints Peter and Paul Tour ends. | ||||
| DEPARTURE TIME | 2.45 meet for 3.00pm departure Fridays | ||||
| DURATION | 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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St Peter in Chains
The tour begins at the Basilica of St Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli), named so after the chains that bound the apostle in prison in Jerusalem before his miraculous liberation and which were subsequently brought to Rome by the Christian Empress Eudoxia in the 5th century, together with the chains that bound St Peter also in Rome. The church also features the Statue of Moses by Michelangelo.
Abbey of the Three Fountains
Only recently opened to the public for the 2025 Holy Jubilee Year, the site of St Paul’s execution and the miraculous three fountains that sprung from the ground at the moment of his decapitation is our second destination. This idyllic complex in the south of Rome is reached by chauffeur-driven car and features the pillar upon which his execution took place.
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
Finally we’ll travel by Rome Metro to the magnificent Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls – one of the most beautiful and probably the least visited of the four Major Basilicas in Rome. The basilica is built over the burial site and body of St Paul, who was executed during the reign of the infamous Roman Emperor Nero.
To the right of the main entrance of the Basilica of St Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli), by the statue of Jesus depicted as a beggar.
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Tour Reviews
Truly special. The sheer treasures that are in Rome boggle the mind. Our guide, Tom, was incredible: entertaining, warm, funny, and truly a man of God. The Basilica of St Paul blew my mind. This whole experience brought the true history of 2000 years ago right up clear and present in front of our eyes. If anyone is questioning their faith, come to this place, see the relics and the ruins, remember how it all came to be. I don’t think there’s anyone out there like Crucis Tours.
A once in a lifetime tour. When booking tours for our first trip to Rome, we looked at the typical places to visit, but I knew there had to be more. This tour explored the treasures hidden in plain sight for those seeking. My husband and I were in awe of our guide Tom–he’s brilliant. He started at the beginning and led us through time as we went to each site. His passion for sharing his faith through his knowledge of history and art was evident in his delivery. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour and felt like we were on a walk with a very intelligent and humorous friend. HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED!
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.
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