The places the Christians of Rome have linked with Peter and Paul since the first centuries: the road by which Paul came, the prisons and houses of tradition, and the two great basilicas over their graves. Three days, on foot and by city transport.
Day 1 · The Appian Way
- Three TavernsActs 28:15The site of an ancient road station on the Appian Way near Cisterna di Latina, among fields.
- The Appian WayActs 28:14–16A park along the ancient road: Roman paving stones, tombs and aqueducts; the stretch nearest the city is lined with catacombs.≈ 45 km from the stop before
- Domine Quo Vadis churchJohn 13:36–37A small 17th-century church at a fork of the road, with a copy of a stone bearing two footprints; the original is kept in San Sebastiano.≈ 1 km from the stop before
- Catacombs of San Sebastiano2 Pet 3:15Galleries of tombs beneath a church on the Appian Way, with Roman mausoleums and the wall of graffiti; visits are guided.≈ 2 km from the stop before
Day 2 · Ancient Rome
- The Roman ForumRom 1:7–8The heart of the city Paul wrote to: temples, basilicas, the Senate house and the Arch of Titus, between the Capitol and the Palatine.≈ 5 km from the stop before
- Mamertine Prison2 Tim 1:16–17The ancient state prison of Rome beneath a church at the foot of the Capitol: two cells, one above the other, and a small museum.≈ 0 km from the stop before
- San Pietro in VincoliActs 12:6–7A 5th-century basilica: the chains lie in a case beneath the altar, and Michelangelo's Moses sits at the tomb monument of Pope Julius.≈ 1 km from the stop before
- Santa Pudenziana2 Tim 4:21An old church below street level, with an apse mosaic of Christ among the apostles from c. 400, among the oldest in Rome.≈ 1 km from the stop before
- San Paolo alla RegolaActs 28:30–31A small Baroque church in the old Regola quarter near the Tiber.≈ 2 km from the stop before
Day 3 · The tombs of the apostles
- St Peter's Basilica and the necropolisJohn 21:18–19The basilica rebuilt 1506–1626 over Constantine's church; beneath it, the excavated Roman cemetery is shown to small groups.≈ 2 km from the stop before
- St Paul Outside the Walls2 Tim 4:6–8The basilica rebuilt after the fire of 1823, with mosaic portraits of the popes; the sarcophagus can be seen through a grille under the altar.≈ 5 km from the stop before
- Tre FontanePhil 1:21–23A quiet abbey of Trappist monks among eucalyptus trees, with three churches; in one, three fountains recall the legend.≈ 3 km from the stop before
Before you travel, check your country’s travel advice. Opening hours and the rules of the sites change — see their official pages.
Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).