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.
churches and basilicas
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.
Blessing the Animals in Assisi on the Feast Day of Sant’Antonio Abate
The Piatto di Sant’Antonio Abate is a winter festival near Assisi that features a parade of horses and a blessing of animals.
Sightseeing in Milan: 3 Places to Go Beyond the Duomo
The Duomo is magnificent. But do you know what else to do in Milan? Here are three ideas for first time visitors to Milan.
Of Bells and Believers in Agnone, Molise
Agnone, a small town in Italy’s central Molise region, is known for its medieval bell foundry and traditional religious processions.
Michelangelo in Rome: His Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and Beyond
Michelangelo Buonarotti is most associated with Rome because of his masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel. But his work is all over the capital and it is well worth the effort to seek it out.
San Biagio: Renaissance Jewel in Montepulciano, Tuscany
The church of San Biagio in Montepulciano, Tuscany, is considered one of prime examples of Renaissance architecture.
Giulianova: A Beachside Gem in Abruzzo
Beaches in Abruzzo don’t get much press. They are far from most tourist sites. But that’s exactly what makes them enjoyable. We had an opportunity – thanks to, of all things, a winning raffle ticket – to visit the Abruzzo seaside town of Giulianova. And we were pleasantly surprised. Giulianova is notable for a number…
Who Was Saint Valentine?
Saint Valentine, a Christian bishop from Umbria, was martyred in Rome in the 3rd century AD. Learn more about his life, death, and legend.
For the First Time in More Than 20 Years, the Facade of St. Mark’s Basilica is Scaffold-Free
With so many ancient structures in need of constant upkeep, Italy is no stranger to scaffolding. Venice’s St. Mark’s Basilica, in particular, is known for constantly being under repair.
Church of Purgatorio in Terracina
Italy’s bigger cities, especially Rome, have plenty of churches to please those with morbid fascinations for skulls, skeletons, and saintly relics. Taken together, these churches and their contents provide a sort-of museum feel — creepy but not altogether isolating.
The Milano Duomo, Inside and Out
Get to know the Milano Duomo, the most famous landmark in Milan.
Will Work For Wine: Luca Signorelli’s Orvieto Duomo Contract and His Intoxicating, Apocalyptic Fresco Cycle
In 1499, Tuscan artist Luca Signorelli signed a contract to paint two remaining sections of the Cappella Nuova (new chapel) of the Duomo in the Umbrian town of Orvieto. By 1502 (or 1504, depending on which documentation you read), he had completed his “End of the World” fresco cycle in what is now known as the…
Photo of the Day: A Ray of Light in San Giovanni in Laterano
While hundreds wait in lines in the harsh sun to get into Saint Peter’s, the Archbasilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, also known as the Cathedral of Rome, is practically empty. San Giovanni is the oldest and largest papal basilica in Rome, although it has gone through many reconstructions over the years due to earthquakes,…
Raining Rose Petals Inside the Pantheon On Pentecost Sunday
La Pioggia di Petali di Rose, or the Rain of Rose Petals, brings religious Rome and ancient Rome together in a moving and colorful spectacle.
Adopt a Spire on the Milano Duomo
Help preserve the Gothic spires of the Milano Duomo via the Adopt a Spire initiative.