Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here’s how to get tickets and prepare for Midnight Mass.
Religion
The Duomo: In Italy, There’s More Than Just One
Florence isn’t the only city in Italy with a duomo.
Saint Lucifer of Cagliari: His Life and Legacy
Saint Lucifer was a bishop from Cagliari, Sardinia, who lived during the 4th century. His name sparks a lot of confusion.
The Fragrance of Faith: Tracking Down That Old Church Smell
The “smell of old churches” is that musty yet perfumed scent that is as much a part of Rome’s allure as the city’s ruins and restaurants.
Easter in Rome: When, Where, and How to See Mass During Holy Week
Easter season is one of the best times to visit Rome. Here’s how you can plan your visit to Rome and Vatican during Holy Week.
Exploring the Ghetto: A Tour of Rome’s Jewish Quarter [Review]
Learn more about the ancient and contemporary history of the Jewish people in Rome with a tour through the ex-Ghetto.
Help Tell the Story of Jewish Italy
CulturaItalia, a website operated by the Italian Culture Ministry, is seeking your help in its efforts to document the Jewish contributions to Italian society over the past 150 years. As one of its many initiatives to mark the anniversary of 150 years of Italian Unity, CulturaItalia has teamed up with with Judaica Europeana, a Europe-wide…
Italy’s Most Unusual Religious Relics
For every Biblical tale and saintly life, there is at least one precious relic housed in Rome, the Vatican, or in one of Italy’s thousands of churches.
Italy’s Newest Saint Venerated
On April 24, the new tomb of Padre Pio was unveiled in the Puglian city of San Giovanni Rotondo. The new tomb now features the exhumed body of Italy’s most recent homegrown saint, who died in 1968 and who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002. According to Ian Fisher’s San Giovanni Rotondo…
Jewish Resources in Italy
Just in time for Passover, I’ve found a great resource for all things Jewish in Italy. JewishItaly.org has links and info to synagogues, kosher stores, Jewish museums, and more. If you are Jewish or just interested in Jewish culture and history, you can also browse JewishItaly’s list of towns that can claim Jewish heritage or…
Papal Basilicas of Rome: St. John Lateran
San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) is the basilica dedicated to the Bishop of Rome, better known as the Pope. It is where the Pope delivers his Holy Week address on Holy Thursday. This massive church not far from the Colosseum is one of four ancient papal basilicas along with St. Peter’s, Saint Paul Outside…
Papal Basilicas of Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore (Photos)
Santa Maria Maggiore, known in English as St. Mary Major, is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome along with San Giovanni in Laterano, San Paolo Fuori Le Mura, and St. Peter’s Basilica. It is located on the Esquilino, one of seven hills of Rome. The largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin…
Papal Basilicas of Rome: Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Photos)
San Paolo Fuori Le Mura, known in English as Saint Paul Outside the Walls, is one of the most important churches in Rome. It houses the shrine of Saint Paul. Along with St. Peter’s, San Giovanni in Laterano, and Santa Maria Maggiore, San Paolo is one of Catholicism’s four patriarchal basilicas. Each of the four…