Holidays in Rome

Rome, often called the capitol of the world, cannot be denied its contributions to the world and our modern history. This two and a half thousand year old city has been at the centre of many of our cultural institutions (the arts, law, eduction) including the world’s biggest religion, Christianity. Rome in fact, remains the home of the religion, and owes a fare amount of its popularity to this link. This has also made the city the de facto destination for Christian pilgrimages.

Where to Stay

Forget booking yourself into a hotel for your trip. Rome is home to many convents and monasteries, which offer accommodation at really affordable rates while offering you a spiritual experience. Majority of these institutions are housed in fantastically historic buildings and lie in the heart of the city, which makes for ease of travel. Rooms are complete with the essentials and most will sleep one (male or female), as well as families with children. Remember, sometimes curfews are in place so enquire before booking.

What to Do

Providing tourist attractions is one thing Rome has never struggled with. This being the birthplace of Christianity, the whole city is literally littered with religious buildings and sights to marvel at. Here’s a couple of the ones we love:

●     The Pantheon – possibly one of the oldest churches in the world. This is was originally built in 125 AD as a church for the all the gods of ancient Rome, but was converted to a Christian church in 609 AD and dedicated to Mother Mary and all the martyrs is still in service today.

●    The Catacombs – there are about 40 official ones all around the city. These maze of underground tunnels housed the burial places of many early Christians before their persecution by Romans.  Many of the catacombs also feature early Christian art as frescos on the walls including depictions of Jesus Christ and symbols of the religion.

●    St. Peter’s Basilica – built on the site where the disciple Peter, considered the fist pope, was buried, this magnificent building is considered one of the most holiest sites in the religion. Located inside Vatican City, this massive church (a record holder once upon a time) is located at St Peter’s Square, and is often the spot where the pope addresses the people.

When to Go

The peak season in Rome starts around Easter (April) and lasts up until October. For flight availability and affordability, we’d suggest not travelling to the city within this period. In fact, Romans are known to leave the city during this time, leaving it to tourists. Also, have a look on the internet as there are a host of companies organizing pilgrimages to the city. They will often have reduced package prices when travelling out of season.

Rome, being a cornerstone of the Christian faith, has much to offer the pilgrim. Too much to mention here in fact. This is the city known for its romance, its historical significance, the arts, eduction and much more. But just like it caters well to all those elements, it does so for religion. This is not only a place of great beauty, but also of great spirituality.

written by Essential Travel Ltd