Best churches in Rome to view mosaics?
 

I love mosaics. What, in your humble opinion, are the top three churches in Rome to see for someone who loves mosaics?

(It doesn't have to be a church, I guess. Any place I can view incredible mosaics could be on your list!)

Thanks!!!

This great church, one of Rome's four major basilicas, was built by Pope Liberius in A.D. 358 and was rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III from 432 to 440. Its 14th-century campanile is the city's loftiest. Much doctored in the 18th century, the church's facade isn't an accurate reflection of the treasures inside. The basilica is especially noted for the 5th-century Roman mosaics in its nave, as well as for its coffered ceiling, which is said to have been gilded with gold brought from the New World

You'll find a 4 hour mosaics tour described in the "18 ITINERARIES TO UNVEIL, STEP AFTER STEP, THE WONDERS OF ROME" of this old tourist board leaflet...

http://www.italiantouristoffice.se/sv/docs/77.pdf

(Sorry - their caps, not mine!)

Peter

Brandon, is your reply a Jeopardy question?

The mosaics in San Prassede, near Santa Maria Maggiore, are gorgeous.

What is Santa Maria Maggiore?

(answering brandon's cryptic listing, which was quoted from a Frommer's guide.)

The guide linked above Itinerary 2 suggest the very churches I would have suggested for their mosaics. Three of the four churches mentioned are quite near one another: Santa Pudenziana, Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Prassede. The other church is across the river--Santa Maria in Trastevere--but has glorious mosaics. While the OP asked for three churches, I would visit all four, since three are so close to one another, and the fourth is so worthwhile.

bookmarking :)

St. John Lateran is maganificent. We were eating at Piazza Navona plotting our trip there. Server said "Go over to Via del Corso and the the 85 bus to Porta San Giovani". Took us right there FYI.

I agree with St. John Lateran-- we were taken there by a relative completing studies in the Vatican and to him, this is a MUST see in Rome. He was right, even the outdoors of this church is breathtaking.

San Giovanni in Laterano, the Mother Church of all the churches in Rome is also the Pope Church.The mosaics in this basilica are just gorgeous.

My siblings, my 2 older children and I, were baptized there..
Here are some photos of the famous Baptistery..

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/i...ran-baptistery

Too bad you aren't going to be in Siena...and no faux marble a la St. Peter's, either.

Thanks all! I HAVE been to St. John Lateran. And totally agree. Love, love, love this church. (I believe this was the first time I completely understood the word, "breathtaking"!)

And while I have also been in Santa Maria in Trastevere, I happened to walk in on Sunday morning mass, and could not complete my "tour", as I didn't want to be disrespectful to the full house of actual local churchgoers!

SO, I already have these two on my list to go back to. I will add the other three gems.

Thanks so much!!!!

Add Santi Cosma e Damiano in the Forum.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/i...osma-e-damiano

The above website is great for descriptions of churches and other sights throughout Italy.

Great information, and I love that old PDF. Thanks for starting this thread, Sarge.

Santa Pudenziana and Santa Prassede are my recommendation too and can easily be seen in the same day as they are very close, along with Santa Maria Maggiore.

I also agree about Santa Maria in Trastevere, make sure to take coins with you and put them in the little machine on the either side of the altar to illuminate the mosaics, it makes a huge difference to see it lighted!

Santa Croce isn't shabby, either, BTW.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Croce_in_Gerusalemme

Kismet, yes, one of the Pope's titles (all Popes) is "The Bishop of Rome". As Bishop of Rome, San Giovanni Laterano is "his church". I didn't know you were baptised there, but it's wonderful and I'm glad you shared that.

BC

Agree with all of the above but think you should go to Ravenna and Venice for mosaics!

bookchick- last spring, I had Santa Croce on my list. We happened to walk all the way from Piazza Venezia to St. John's. Then didn't think it would be that far to just traverse on to Santa Croce.

Ugh. LONG walk on a hot day. And it turned out, a national holiday. When we arrived, alas, due to holiday, the church was closed until the evening. :(

To add to our pain, there was a huge concert just to the east of St. John and due to that, and the holiday, we were unsuccessful in getting a bus or train back to Venezia. I thought I would die. hahaha

When we got back to Venezia, it was a zoo! There were, literally, 4 or 5 dozen people in line for EACH bus stop on the square (and you know how many there are!)

Then... the fortunes smiled upon us. We saw the taxi stand, a line of taxis, and a short line of people there. We were in a taxi in 2 minutes and home in 10. Well worth the E7 it cost us to get back to our apartment at Castel Sant'Angelo. :)

Yes BC.Christina my younger daughter,you remember her the pretty little blonde, never forgave me that she wasn't baptized in San Giovanni as her two older siblings were but was baptized instead in Barksdale AFB, Louisiana..:)

Of course she realized that I lived in Rome back then.

Planning a trip to Rome to see mosaics!