Pilgrim’s Walk in Rome: Explore Fascinating Religious Sites in Just 2 Hours

If you’re looking for a meaningful yet easy walk around Rome, the Pilgrim’s Walk is a perfect choice. This roughly two-hour route takes you past some of the city’s most fascinating religious sites, combining rich history, stunning architecture, and masterpieces by renowned artists like Bernini and Michelangelo.  When we are in Rome on our small group tour, we always find time for this activity. 

Start at the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria
Just a 7-minute walk from Roma Termini station, this Baroque church is not only religiously significant but also home to one of Bernini’s masterpieces—the captivating Ecstasy of St. Teresa.

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
Nearby is the ancient Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, known as the church of the Popes. Dating back to 432 AD, it houses the tombs of Bernini and Pope Sixtus V. Beneath the altar rests a statue of Pope Pius IX, and you can see fragments of wood from Jesus’ manger in a glass case.

San Giovanni in Laterano
Walk about 15 minutes down Via Merulana or take bus #714 to this historic basilica. It opened around 318 AD and was the first church where Catholics could openly worship in Rome. As the Pope’s home church, it was the site where Popes were crowned until 1870.

Santa Scala (Holy Stairs)
Directly across from San Giovanni in Laterano are the Holy Stairs, said to be the steps Jesus climbed on the day of his sentencing. The marble stairs are covered with wood, revealing the stains of Jesus’ blood through glass panels. Many pilgrims climb the stairs on their knees daily. At the top, you’ll find a private chapel used by medieval Popes (note: closed during lunch hours).

Saint Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli)
About 20 minutes’ walk from Laterano—or via metro to Cavour or bus #117—this basilica was built in the 5th century to house the chains that bound Saint Peter in Jerusalem. Legend says these chains miraculously fused with the chains from Peter’s imprisonment in Rome. The church also features Michelangelo’s powerful statue of Moses (1515).

This Pilgrim’s Walk in Rome offers a rich spiritual and artistic journey, perfect for visitors seeking to combine history, faith, and art in one memorable stroll through the Eternal City.