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Rome: Relics from the Passion of the Christ Walking Tour

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$95.06 /person
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About the activity

Visit the most spiritually significant artefacts involved in the Crucifixion of Jesus outside of the Holy Land. This walking tour is a must for any Christian pilgrim to Rome.

  • Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Live guiding
    English
  • Duration
    3 hours
  • Includes
    • Entry to the each site included in the tour
    • Expert Local Guide
    • Transport to and from the tour
    • Some temporary exhibitions and special events may be excluded
    • Food and Drink
    • Gratuities
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • Celebrate the Passion of the Christ in Rome
  • Visit and pray with Relics touched by Christ
  • Experience the relics in Rome with an expert religious tour guide

Description

When the Roman Empire embraced the faith it once persecuted, it exploded into a frenzy of observance for the history and truth of the Christian faith manifest in the literary, the artistic and the relics of the early Christian church. Many of these were then brought to the then capital of the world - Rome. On this tour expect to have an intimate encounter with the Relics of the Passion of Jesus Christ - physical objects which were used in his torture and death, and which were mostly brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St Helena - the mother of Emperor Constantine - in the 4th century. We begin our tour with a visit to one of the oldest Churches dedicated to Theotokos (Mother of God) in Rome - the Basilica of St Mary Major - containing, beneath its main altar, wood from the manger in which the baby Jesus once lay. The church adorned by every era of Italian art history even holds the body of the devout baroque master artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
We then walk over to the Basilica of Santa Prassede, with its fabulous 9th century mosaics and most importantly the stone pillar on which Jesus was scourged brought from the Praetorium in Jerusalem to Rome in the 13th century.
Only a few yards away we then enter the church of San Alfonso Ligouri to see the beautiful 15th century Byzantine icon “Our Lady of Perpetual Help / Succour” also known as the Virgin of the Passion or Theotokos of the Passion, which is probably the most recognisable icon in the world.
From there you continue on to the Holy Steps on which Jesus was judged by Pontius Pilate, transported to Rome in the 4th century by St Helena. Although we won't have time to ascend the stairs on our knees according to the pilgrim tradition, we will also peer into the Holy of Holies at the top to see the icon painted by the Gospel writer, St Luke.
From there we visit the Cathedral of Rome, the Basilica of Saint John Lateran (San Giovanni Laterano) to marvel at the architectural design of Borrimini and understand the symbolism and history of the stunning mosaic. Your expert guide will then point out the place above the high altar where the skulls of Sts Peter and Paul rest.
From there you will continue to the climax of the tour and one of the most holy places in the world - the Basilica of the Holy Cross - built on earth brought from Calvary in the 4th century. Learn the history about the artifacts of Jesus' passion and death that were brought to Rome and finally enter to see fragments of the Holy Sepulcher and the Cave of Bethlehem, a Nail of The Crucifixion, a 2 Thorns of The Crown Thorns, the small walnut board reading Jesus the Nazarene king of the Jews and the wood of the Cross Jesus was crucified on. All pilgrims who join us on this once in a lifetime Catholic pilgrimage tour will be given time to reflect and pray as part of their religious tour experience.

Good to know before you go
  • **Shoulders and knees must be covered in order to enter churches**
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes and be sure to dress warmly in colder temperatures, and bring a cover for bare shoulders inside any churches in the warmer months.
  • Please check-in at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Tours will depart promptly at the scheduled time, and no refunds will be given for late arrivals or missed tours.
  • Proof of identification may be required, so please bring a valid form of photo ID for each guest.
  • Tours will proceed in all weather conditions, unless the site is closed by authorities for safety reasons. It is highly recommended to bring bottled water, sunscreen, hat and umbrella.
  • All tours operate within the current COVID-19 regulations set by the Italian Government.
  • The order of the visit may be altered in the case of unexpected church closures or events.
Meeting point

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2. When will I receive the confirmation of my booking?
You will receive an email notification right after your successful payment. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder. When the payment is completed you have the option to download your ticket directly.
3. Are mobile tickets enough or do I have to print them?
Tickets don't need to be printed. You can show your ticket from your smartphone as a PDF.
  • Adults
    18-99 years
  • Youth
    12-17 years
  • Children
    3-11 years
  • Infants
    0-2 years
May 2025
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