A lil bit of a wait to use the mirror but well worth. The line goes pretty fast as along as you…read moredon't have millennials taking picture after pictures. Just walk up , have some common courtesy and take your pic so the line can keep moving quickly

To think, I almost avoided visiting this STUNNING 17th-century church - Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di…read moreLoyola, when visiting Rome, Italy (09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025) because it is Tik-Tok and IG "famous" for being the "mirrored church" to take an iconic selfie... yes, you read that correctly..iconic selfie. I was for sure it was going to be crowded w/ social media influencers and I was correct..it was crowded but don't let that deter you from seeing this historical beauty! Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola is known as the "mirrored church" because it has a mirror strategically placed to see the beautiful painted ceiling fresco. (see pics & videos included in this review from my visit on Tuesday 09/30/2025 - at 10:56am) It also has a painted illusion of having a real soaring dome on a flat ceiling - very cool for sure and does make you look twice just to confirm it's indeed an illusion! Here are a few helpful fyi(s) that I wanted to pass along: --- - long line for the mirror right as you enter the church - if there is a line of people waiting for the mirror, you don't have to wait in that line if you don't want to take a selfie w/ the mirror and are only wanting to see the church...as someone else mentioned in a previous review, you can get creative w/ taking a selfie w/ the beautiful ceiling. My hubby & I took our selfie pic while we were sitting in the pew and used a timer on our phone (see pic included). ---- visit early to avoid the crowds & to fully enjoy your experience at this church Avoid the crowds so you can really take in how detailed and beautiful the architecture and paintings are. Trust me, you'll enjoy your experience so much more w/ less people. ---- it's free to visit but do bring some money w/ you to give as an offering --- just a reminder to be respectful when visiting because it is a holy place Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola truly is something special and of the MANY Rome basilica's I've explored during my 2 visits to Rome, it is now my FAVORITE basilica thus far. Hope this info helps. :)) Rebecca visiting Rome, Italy from Austin, Texas (USA) 09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025

I love huge and beautiful old architecture! This is one of…read morethe most ornate churches I've ever seen! It was a beautiful part of our Rome/Vatican City trip. There wasn't a church service going on when we arrived, but the building was crowded anyway. This was a wonderful trip, and the architecture is worth checking out! It's amazing how such an old church still stands.

St. Peter's Basilica is one of the 4 Major Basilicas in Rome and is considered one of the most…read moresacred Catholic sites. Also one of the most beautiful Catholic churches I've been to. In the 4 times I've been there, I have not fully explored the church. 1 day is not enough. They open at 7am and lines can get long if you decide to visit in the middle of the day. So we always try to be there when it opens to beat the crowd and to be able to admire the inside architecture. Make sure to allot probably a day to explore the Basilica. They have a dome that was designed by Michelangelo and is the world's tallest dome. Visitors can climb 551 steps, costing 8-10 euros with a partially available elevator ( the elevator bypasses the 1st 200 steps) and it stops at the roof level. The climb can be strenuous and for claustrophobic individuals, it could be a challenge but the reward is a beautiful view of St. Peter's square and a view of Rome and so much more. When we climb the dome, it was so foggy and we waited an hour to get a good, semi clear view since it was still foggy. St. Peter's Basilica houses Michelangelo's Pieta, St. Peter's chair, Pope John Paul's tomb which is made into an altar where priests celebrate mass daily. Visiting this Basilica is truly one of the breathtaking, overwhelming experience in every trip that we took to Rome as no one can ever describe the beautiful works from Michelangelo and Bernini. The architecture is just simply magnificent. I will never get tired of visiting St. Peter's Basilica. March 2026

We arrived in Rome by train in the early evening, but we wanted to make the most of the remainder…read moreof our day. We took a bus over and ate a quick dinner nearby before getting in line for the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore 30 minutes before closing. Entrance is free. There is a security check before entering and the line moved pretty quickly. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four basilicas in Rome and it is dedicated to honoring the Virgin Mary. Tradition holds that the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to a wealthy Roman couple and Pope Liberius, instructing them to build a church where snow would miraculously fall in August. The next morning, August 5th snow reportedly blanketed the Esquiline Hill, marking the site of the basilica. Every August 5th, white rose petals are dropped from the ceiling to celebrate the "Miracle of the Snow." The interior was absolutely stunning. From the ceiling to the walls, and all of the paintings and sculptures were magnificent. This basilica houses some of the oldest representations of the Virgin Mary in art. It also holds the holy crib relic that contains pieces of the manger where Jesus was laid. This was the first basilica we visited in Rome and we also saw how there were multiple confession boxes with a Priest assigned and their language and hours. Very modern. I guess that helps with people of all ethnic backgrounds coming to Rome for their religious pilgrimages. I was so impressed by this basilica when we visited, but to be honest I am so glad we came here before seeing St Peter's Basilica because I would have been underwhelmed by compare if I went there first. I recommend coming here before going to St. Peter's Basilica so you can feel impressed here, and then even more impressed at St Peter's Basilica.

Such a special moment getting to pay our respects & visit the resting place of Pope Frances during…read moreThe 2025 Jubilee (on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 4:30pm) at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major) when my husband & I were visiting Rome, Italy for the 2nd time (09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025). Even though, this was our 2nd time in Rome, we had not previously visited the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore so for sure it was on the itinerary as a must-do for a few special reasons - - ---- Final resting place of Pope Frances after his death in April 2025. The Pope requested his tomb to very simple w/ only the inscription of "Franciscus" & it is exactly that, which only makes it even more special. During our visit (Thursday, 09/25/25) there was a line to get in however, we only had to wait about 20 mins before getting inside the basilica. I did want to mention that when we walked by a few days later on a Saturday, the line to get in was so much longer than it was just a few days before during the weekday so definitely plan your visit for a weekday, if possible. --- Holy Door : There is a Holy Door located at this basilica, which is only opened every 25 years during the Jubilee years and 2025 is a Jubilee year so we were able to walk through the open Holy Door when we visited on 09/25/2025. You don't have to be Catholic and/or religious to walk through the holy door and trust me, it is a very special moment for all who walk through the holy door at this grand basilica. Fyi(s): -- - Security line: during our visit, we did have to go through security screening before entering the basilica however, I don't know if this was because it was a Jubilee year and/or if this is how it will be even after it is no longer a Jubilee year now that Pope Frances is buried at this basilica. (I guess I'll have to make a 3rd trip to Rome do I can give an update on this review! :)) -- - Be respectful w/ no photos/videos inside the basilica. This one always rubs me the wrong way, when there are signs clearly posted both outside and inside a basilica stating that no pics/videos are allowed and this basilica even had an attendant near Pope Frances's stone, trying to enforce this however, people kept taking photos and videos. Please note that the pics/videos, included w/ this review were taken of the outside. -- - Free to visit : No appointment is needed to visit & it is free however, I do recommend that you take some money w/ you so you can give an offering during your visit. Hope this info helps! Rebecca visiting from Austin, Texas (USA) 09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025

We peeked inside the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere while we were walking around Trastevere…read more It was smaller and less busy than most of the other churches we saw on our trip, more of your neighborhood 3rd century basilica. I guess it is one of the oldest churches in Rome. There's an inscription on the episcopal throne stating it was the first one dedicated to Jesus's mother Mary. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore says different. Perhaps a gang war is in order to sort things out. It's a beautiful church, anchoring its own lovely piazza (the Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere). The exterior features a 13th century mosaic and a towering campanile from the 12th century, when most of the current version of the basilica was built. The interior is ornate and decked out in gold, with a ceiling that felt elaborate and expensive, even for Rome. For all this, the church was a quiet place. I'm sure many of the people sitting in the pews were in fact tourists, but the vibe was worshipful enough that we hung back from running up and gawking at the altar. If you're exploring the neighborhood, don't miss the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. It's a historically important church, and you can just walk in and look around without dealing with a crowd.

What a beautiful Basilica in Trastévere, Rome. From the outside it does not look as impressive as…read moresome of the others we have seen, but once inside you see the beauty. We were at the Piazza and when we saw it was open we went in and were amazed. The art work is beautiful! The church is beautiful. Never judge a book by its cover.

Fantastic bucket list location..when in rome.. Must…read moresee...note crowd is massive Must see

I got pregnant in 2019, and one of the last things I did before entering the baby years was…read morecomplete a 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I'd seen pictures of it, of course, but didn't realize how crazy it was until I spent who knows how many of hours of my life on that giant puzzle, which covered my entire dining room table. That was a big undertaking, but it was literally nothing compared to the once-in-several-millennia feat of the ceiling itself: 5,000 square feet of frescoes painted by Michelangelo, standing on a scaffold and working from below. The frescoes show scenes from Genesis, including the Creation of Adam, one of the most famous paintings of all time. They're colorful, energetic, and a little bizarre. I enjoyed staring at them for weeks while I worked on the puzzle. The ceiling is, of course, 1,000 times more impactful in person, a genuinely breathtaking masterpiece, unlike anything else in the world. Then there's The Last Judgment, the enormous apocalyptic fresco painted by Michelangelo on the altar wall twenty-five years after the ceiling, when he was in his 60s. It's powerful and dynamic, roaring with life, with over 300 figures in a work that encompasses the heights of heaven and the depths of hell. At its center is a buff Jesus, his physique modeled after the famous Belvedere Torso, which also resides in the Vatican Museums. We visited the Sistine Chapel under ideal conditions: a Monday morning in mid-November, with a small group tour. I gather that it gets crowded and sweaty during peak season, and I feel lucky that we got to see it in such serenity. Our tour guide prepared us for the visit by telling us the chapel's history and pointing out key points on a printed sheet before we entered. There were strict rules once we went in: no photos, no videos, and no talking. The no talking rule seemed to be the most relaxed, but the chapel felt holy and hushed even with some low chatter. We were able to find seats on one of the benches along the walls and gawk at the ceiling and The Last Judgment at our leisure. If I never see the Sistine Chapel again, I will remember the experience for the rest of my life. I hope to go back, though, even if it is a crush of bodies. It might even be fitting to view The Last Judgment while writhing in a sea of humanity.

For me, this church punches up with the major basilicas. It's not as big, but it's stunning and…read moreit's also not nearly as crowded, so you might actually...you know...get to pray. Especially if you like the Jesuits at all, you have to stop here. The ceiling is alive with textures. The sculptures are on point. Intense focus on Christ, with a great crucifix and a Sacred Heart chapel, too. The place of repose of St. Ignatius himself. This church is a wonder.

Rome is the place to go if you like visiting churches. There are many and they are well maintained…read more The difficulty is selecting those you have time to visit. Chiesa del Gesu is one you probably don't want to miss because of the bizarre (to me) way the the tomb of Ignacio Loyola is displayed. The tomb is hidden behind a giant picture which at 5:30 in the afternoon is rolled back by some mechanical device to reveal the tomb behind. This is accompanied by loud music and lights and is accompanied by an audience of worshippers waving their arms. Pretty over the top. Don't miss it. The rest of the church is pretty over the top also. Early baroque as I understand. Much too ornate for my taste but certainly worth seeing. I personally prefer more austerity but the Chiesa del Gesu is something I won't forget.

Right next to the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini (that rolls off the tongue…read morelike a Latin exam you didn't study for), this museum is part chapel, part crypt, and part humble brag for the Capuchin friars, the Franciscan branch known for vows of poverty, haircuts, and a surprising flair for interior bone design. Did we come to this museum to learn about the friars, Mmmmmm. Ok maybe. You'll walk through exhibits showing how these robed legends brewed up herbal potions, lived in literal caves, and humbly redefined the phrase less is more. We really came for the Caravaggio. Turn the corner, and there it is, the Caravaggio's "St. Francis in Meditation", just casually hanging there like it's no big deal. Spoiler: It is a big deal. This moody masterpiece punches you in the soul. Saint Francis looks like he's just remembered his iCloud password and is deeply not okay with it. Shadows engulf him, light hits him like a holy spotlight, and suddenly you're questioning all your life choices in front of a painting that's older than the United States. Caravaggio, ever the art world's tortured bad boy, painted like he lived, fast and bold, and usually on the run from the law. His contribution here adds gravitas to an already gravity-heavy museum, where death is literally the décor.

Also know as " The Crypt of the Capuchin Monks"…read more Absolutely creepy as hell, but worth every minute spent here. This place is fantastic. My wife, son and nephew and I thoroughly loved it. It can be a little hard to find, but all that's expected is a small donation and a promise not to take pictures. The ones that I've included are from their website and the Internet. Here's some additional information: "The crypt is located just under Santa Maria della Concezione, a church commissioned by Pope Urban VIII in 1626. The pope's brother, Cardinal Antonio Barberini, who was a member of the Capuchin order, in 1631 ordered the remains of thousands of Capuchin friars exhumed and transferred from the friary Via dei Lucchesi to the crypt. The bones were arranged along the walls, and the friars began to bury their own dead here, as well as the bodies of poor Romans, whose tomb was under the floor of the present Mass chapel. Here the Capuchins would come to pray and reflect each evening before retiring for the night. The crypt, or ossuary, now contains the remains of 4,000 friars buried between 1500 and 1870, during which time the Roman Catholic Church permitted burial in and under churches. The underground crypt is divided into five chapels, lit only by dim natural light seeping in through cracks, and small fluorescent lamps. The crypt walls are decorated with the remains in elaborate fashion, making this crypt a macabre work of art. Some of the skeletons are intact and draped with Franciscan habits, but for the most part, individual bones are used to create elaborate ornamental designs. The crypt originated at a period of a rich and creative cult for their dead; great spiritual masters meditated and preached with a skull in hand. A plaque in one of the chapels reads, in three languages, "What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be." This is a memento mori." Thank you Wikipedia. Well worth the visit, and there are some excellent restaurants close as well.

I have been to the Piazza Navona in Rome a dozen of times but can't figure out why I never thought…read moreabout going inside, I guess it's partly bc the tourist guide was always rushing us along but even in my own I didn't think about it until today. I went to catholic school for 7 years but I'm not a catholic yet I was completely enthralled by how beautiful n immaculate the massive church was so to all Catholics out there, you gotta visit this year amazing church in the heart if Rome behind the Piazza Navona. They had several rooms I had no time to visit bc the church closed at 1pm. I wish I came earlier as I'd love to listen to the massive organ they had as pictured, it was as big as the Crystal Cathedral one in Garddn Grove, California. If you stay in Rome they have some plays I didn't get a chance to ask for details but it didn't matter as I had to get back to the ship.