The Pilgrimage

Fearful of floating in nothingness for too long once you die? Anxious about your after-death sentence to heaven or hell? Do yourself and your loved ones a favor - reduce your time spent in Purgatory by going on a pilgrimage to the four Papal Basilicas all in one day like the people of old did (and possibly still do today).

That's how I would advertise pilgrimages if I worked for the Vatican. Luckily for them, I'm not in advertising.  However, I am into writing about fascinating things to do while in Rome, and this historical, religious journey was foreign to me until recently.

My Roman history expert shed light on the subject, about the many journeys from around the world to visit the four Papal Basilicas of Rome, which are:

• Saint Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo Fuori le Mura)
• Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore)
• Saint John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano) 
• Saint Peter's Basilica (San Pietro in Vaticano)  Easily the most popular one being in the Vatican City, so start or end your day there to avoid this long queue.

For those not participating in a pilgrimage for strictly religious reasons, I think it is worth attempting for a number of reasons.

1. The Basilicas are huge! We are talking awe-inspiring grandiose structures folks. You  somehow  feel ... different when you stand inside, looking up and around, taking it all in.
2. See what makes each one different! No Basilica is the same. Each has it's own unique flavor of design, both interior and exterior and are well worth viewing.
3. Compare their Papal Altars. In each one, a special altar resides for only the Pope to conduct his own Mass. 
4. Consider each location's relic. These ancient religious objects may be a part of the body of a saint or may have been an object that a saint touched or used at one point in history. Each Basilica's relic has it's own fascinating story.
5. The artwork and sculptures! There are some extremely popular items in the Basilicas you would not want to miss viewing in person. For example, Michelangelo's The Pieta sculpture is in St. Peter's. Simply amazing work.
6. It's one of the many Free Things To Do In Rome! Enough said.

I have taken many a photo of the insides of each Basilica and I almost posted them for you. But I abstain. This is something you should see without my influence.  It's sooooo much greater in person.

Here are the Basilicas and their closest metro stops for your convenience.

• Saint Paul Outside the Wall (San Paolo Fuori le Mura) - Metro B line, stop name: Basilica S. Paolo
• Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) - Metro A/B line, stop name: Termini
• Saint John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano)  - Metro A line, stop name: San Giovanni
• Saint Peter's Basilica (San Pietro in Vaticano) - Metro A line, stop name: Ottaviano - S. Pietro

Happy Pilgrimage, whatever the reason!