The four major basilicas of Rome

Four churches of Rome are called major basilicas and are property of the Holy See, including Saint Peter’s basilica, located on the territory of the Vatican and church of the Pope. The other three are the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major and the Papal Basilica Saint Paul outside the walls.
They form with three minor basilicas (Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, Saint Lawrence outside the Walls and Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls) the stages of the traditional tour of The Seven Pilgrim Churches of pilgrims going to Rome, practiced since the sixteenth century.

Saint Peter’s basilica, is the largest religious building in the Catholicism world. It was built on the supposed tomb of the apostle Peter, buried near the place where he was martyred. It is the highest building in the city with the 119 meters reached by the dome. It was rebuilt with a huge construction site during the 16th century, started in the Renaissance, with the help of the greatest architects and artists such as Bramante, Bernini and Michelangelo

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The Basilica Saint-John Lateran is the Cathedral of the Pope as Bishop of Rome. It is considered the mother of all churches. It is indeed the oldest church in the city, built by Constantine around 320 AD. Rebuilt throughout history, it is in the Baptistery that the paleochristian remains are best preserved, and its cloister is a remarkable achievement

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The Basilica Saint Mary Major is the oldest and largest church dedicated to Mary. The whole of Christian art can be found there, since the Early Christian era with its five majestic naves separated by Ionic columns, the medieval Romanesque style with for example its beautiful bell tower, the Renaissance during which the interior was extensively altered, and the baroque as through its facade and its domes.

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Destroyed by fire in 1823, the basilica Saint Paul outside the Walls was rebuilt in its entirety. However, its 13th century cloister survived the disaster.
Inside the atmosphere is intensely sober and majestic with its five naves. A frieze of 265 medallions portraits of the Pope runs on the walls of the nave and transept. The mosaic of the Apocalypse on the ark dates back to the 5th century.

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