Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here’s how to get tickets and prepare for Midnight Mass.
Religion
History of the Crucifixion
If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the history of the crucifixion during the age of Ancient Rome, here is a fascinating podcast to listen to on Easter.
The Duomo: In Italy, There’s More Than Just One
Florence isn’t the only city in Italy with a duomo.
Saint Lucifer of Cagliari: His Life and Legacy
Saint Lucifer was a bishop from Cagliari, Sardinia, who lived during the 4th century. His name sparks a lot of confusion.
The Fragrance of Faith: Tracking Down That Old Church Smell
The “smell of old churches” is that musty yet perfumed scent that is as much a part of Rome’s allure as the city’s ruins and restaurants.
Easter in Rome: When, Where, and How to See Mass During Holy Week
Easter season is one of the best times to visit Rome. Here’s how you can plan your visit to Rome and Vatican during Holy Week.
Blessing the Animals in Assisi on the Feast Day of Sant’Antonio Abate
The Piatto di Sant’Antonio Abate is a winter festival near Assisi that features a parade of horses and a blessing of animals.
Of Bells and Believers in Agnone, Molise
Agnone, a small town in Italy’s central Molise region, is known for its medieval bell foundry and traditional religious processions.
Will Work For Wine: Luca Signorelli’s Orvieto Duomo Contract and His Intoxicating, Apocalyptic Fresco Cycle
In 1499, Tuscan artist Luca Signorelli signed a contract to paint two remaining sections of the Cappella Nuova (new chapel) of the Duomo in the Umbrian town of Orvieto. By 1502 (or 1504, depending on which documentation you read), he had completed his “End of the World” fresco cycle in what is now known as the…
Raining Rose Petals Inside the Pantheon On Pentecost Sunday
La Pioggia di Petali di Rose, or the Rain of Rose Petals, brings religious Rome and ancient Rome together in a moving and colorful spectacle.
‘An Irreverent Curiosity’ – An Interview with David Farley
If you know me, you’ll know that I am nuts about religious relics. And if you know David Farley’s book “An Irreverent Curiosity,” you’ll know immediately why that first line is a wee bit funny. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Farley in Manhattan to discuss his book, which has the tag…
Italy’s Most Unusual Religious Relics
For every Biblical tale and saintly life, there is at least one precious relic housed in Rome, the Vatican, or in one of Italy’s thousands of churches.
Spooky Rome: Some of the Eeriest Places to Visit in the Eternal City
From extensive catacombs to spooky church tombs, Rome is like an instant haunted house and is a great place to visit during Halloween.
A Peaceful Oasis: Rome’s Protestant Cemetery
Rome’s leafy Protestant Cemetery is the final resting place for Keats, Shelley, and Gramsci.
Italy’s Newest Saint Venerated
On April 24, the new tomb of Padre Pio was unveiled in the Puglian city of San Giovanni Rotondo. The new tomb now features the exhumed body of Italy’s most recent homegrown saint, who died in 1968 and who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002. According to Ian Fisher’s San Giovanni Rotondo…
Jewish Resources in Italy
Just in time for Passover, I’ve found a great resource for all things Jewish in Italy. JewishItaly.org has links and info to synagogues, kosher stores, Jewish museums, and more. If you are Jewish or just interested in Jewish culture and history, you can also browse JewishItaly’s list of towns that can claim Jewish heritage or…
Papal Basilicas of Rome: St. John Lateran
San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) is the basilica dedicated to the Bishop of Rome, better known as the Pope. It is where the Pope delivers his Holy Week address on Holy Thursday. This massive church not far from the Colosseum is one of four ancient papal basilicas along with St. Peter’s, Saint Paul Outside…
Papal Basilicas of Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore (Photos)
Santa Maria Maggiore, known in English as St. Mary Major, is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome along with San Giovanni in Laterano, San Paolo Fuori Le Mura, and St. Peter’s Basilica. It is located on the Esquilino, one of seven hills of Rome. The largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin…