The Churches of Rome

[Regions of Italy]

In Italy Online proudly presents its series dedicated to the wonderful churches of Rome. These articles, along with beautiful photographs by Grzegorz Galazka, are reprinted from the Rome-based monthly magazine Inside the Vatican (editor, Robert Moynihan) and written by June Hager, who has lived in Rome and written about it for the past twenty years. For information about subscribing to Inside the Vatican, write to Inside the Vatican, c/o St. Martin de Porres Lay Dominican Community, New Hope, KY 40052 USA Tel: 1-800-789-9494 Fax: 502-325-3091.

Now these articles are also part of an exquisite new book called Pilgrimage: A Chronicle of Christianity Through the Churches of Rome, written by June Hager and with photographs by Grzegorz Galazka, and published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd. As you can tell from our excerpts here, this book makes a wonderful gift for anyone who loves architecture or religious history. Click here to purchase the book.

• Rome's favorite saint, Philip Neri, made his church the reference point for Counter Reformation renewal. In gratitude, Romans have always called it their "New Church.": La Chiesa Nuova. This year (1995) the city honors St. Philip's shrine with a joyous 400th anniversary celebration.
• Il Gesù, the Jesuit Mother Church, occupies the site St. Ignatius chose for his headquarters shortly after he founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. The Church of St. Ignatius is entirely Baroque in style, and can be said to represent the Jesuits' triumphant phase.
• The Basilica of San Clemente is not one but three churches, of three different historical eras, built one above the other upon earlier Roman ruins.
• The basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle was a result of unusual cooperation between three pontifical families, ardent devotion to two early Christian saints, and Baroque artistic genius.
• The ancient Church of Santa Susanna is now—by virtue of dogged American determination and solid papal support—the confirmed church of the American community in Rome.
• Come with us now on a virtual tour of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, the only truly Gothic church in the Eternal City.
• The Basilica of the Santi Quattro Coronati is dedicated to four Christian martyrs. But actually there were nine. And that is not the only surprise in store for a visitor to this beautiful and secluded church.
• Every Christmas Eve Romans flock here for the city's best-loved Christmas ritual... Santa Maria in Aracoeli.

[Regions of Italy]