Rome: A Long Church Walk
#1
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Rome: A Long Church Walk
I'd appreciate feedback on this draft concept of exploring several churches in the SE part of Rome. Would like any rants, raves or good to know info about these places.
And please feel free to provide recommendations on other interesting places to see along the way and/or places to eat, drink or shop.
Start: San Pietro Vincoli
View church
Then walk south through the Domus Aurea green area to Via di Giovanni in Laterano, then southeast to the Church of San Clemente
View the church and ruins underground
Opposite San Clemente, walk a short ways down via dei Quercetti to the church of Santi Quattro Coronati (and cloister).
Walk back to Via di Giovanni in Laterano, turn right and walk east to the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (and cloister).
Nearby options: Baptistery of San Giovanni (SW corner of Piazza) and Palazzo Lateranense / Museo Storico del Vaticano.
Walk to east side of the Piazza to view the Scala Santa (Sacred Stairs).
Then walk to Viale Carlo Felice and head east parallel to a stretch of the Aurelian Walls to Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.
View the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and relics of the Cross.
Walk to Porta San Giovanni and take the metro back
Is this too much to do in one day? Too far to walk? I guess you could do this in reverse order?
And please feel free to provide recommendations on other interesting places to see along the way and/or places to eat, drink or shop.
Start: San Pietro Vincoli
View church
Then walk south through the Domus Aurea green area to Via di Giovanni in Laterano, then southeast to the Church of San Clemente
View the church and ruins underground
Opposite San Clemente, walk a short ways down via dei Quercetti to the church of Santi Quattro Coronati (and cloister).
Walk back to Via di Giovanni in Laterano, turn right and walk east to the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (and cloister).
Nearby options: Baptistery of San Giovanni (SW corner of Piazza) and Palazzo Lateranense / Museo Storico del Vaticano.
Walk to east side of the Piazza to view the Scala Santa (Sacred Stairs).
Then walk to Viale Carlo Felice and head east parallel to a stretch of the Aurelian Walls to Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.
View the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and relics of the Cross.
Walk to Porta San Giovanni and take the metro back
Is this too much to do in one day? Too far to walk? I guess you could do this in reverse order?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
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It's a long walk but you can do it, especially since you'll be stopping frequently and sitting inside the churches admiring the interiors while grabbing some rest for your feet. Remember that most churches (I don't think San Giovanni Laterano is one) close at 12 or 1 pm for a few hours and then reopen at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I'd see the first three in the morning, have lunch at one of my favorite hole in the wall trattorie, Ulderico, which is directly across the street from San Clemente, then see San Giovanni Laterano et.al. after lunch.
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Join Date: May 2003
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One morning I set out to cover some early Christian Churches I'd missed. I began at Santa Maria Maggiore at 7:30, walked to Pudenziana (missed it and had to do some backtracking), Santa Prassede, then took the Metro to San Giovanni in Laterano, stopping at Santa Scala.
It was nearly 11 and I still had time to see Quattro Coronati which wasn't far, but I just couldn't go anymore.
Joelle
It was nearly 11 and I still had time to see Quattro Coronati which wasn't far, but I just couldn't go anymore.
Joelle
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Join Date: Oct 2003
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Sounds like a very interesting day. The day we visited San Pietro Vincoli we got halfway up the stairs from the street and met a group of about 4 American women and one man. The women were refusing to continue up the stairs. (It looks unending, but it's not that bad.) The man said something like, "I'm told the climb is worth it." The women won and they all left, missing the wonderful Moses by Michelangelo. They were already more than halfway up and couldn't see the end so gave up. Don't do that. It's not much farther, just a few more stairs and Moses is definitely worth the climb.
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There are two ways to reach San Pietro in Vincoli. The first, through a dark archway on Via Cavour, only has a few steps. That's the way to go. Otherwise, you have to ascend the larger amount of stairs off Via degli Annibaldi.
#8
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Ulderico is a small trattoria frequented by Romans working in the neighborhood. Because it is across the street from San Clemente, the occasional tourist finds his way there so they do have a menu in English. My family and I have have eaten there numerous times and everything has been delicious. They make an especially good bucatini amatriciana, stewed veal and peas, fritto misto del mare and be sure to try the roast potatoes.
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Did this exact "tour" on Good Friday of Easter Week with one exception. I actually climbed the Scala Santa on my knees with many other Pilgrims as it was a rough 45 minutes. Have A Great Trip !!! Mike
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It's not too bad. But it is discouraging when the eighty year old ladies pass you. When you get to the top, be sure to look into the chapel there. A picture of Christ said to be painted "by divine hands" is in the chapel. But it may only be visible during Holy Week.