The seat of the Roman Catholic Church for over one and a half millennia, the beautiful cityscape of Rome is inexorably shaped by its magnificent religious edifices. According to some estimates, there are over 900 in total. Here we take a look at the city’s 11 most important and spectacular basilicas and churches.
Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano (Basilica of St John Lateran)
Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore)
Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura (Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls)
Basilica Papale di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (Basilica of St Lorenzo Outside the Walls)
Sant’Andrea della Valle
Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere (Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere)
Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Basilica of Saint Mary Above Minerva)
San Pietro in Montorio
Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
(Images: Basilica of St Peter – tiseb; Basilica of St John Lateran – © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons; Basilica of Saint Mary Above Minerva – Wknight94 / Wikimedia Commons; Basilica Papale di San Lorenzo – Panairjdde; Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere – Luca Volpi; San Pietro in Montorio – spaceodissey; Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva – Wknight94 / Wikimedia Commons)