Our Rome guide lists 10 places of worship. Two are central sights, St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican and the Pantheon in the Centro Storico, and the other eight are churches in the Trastevere district.
St. Peter's Basilica stands beside the Vatican Museums, which include the Sistine Chapel; museum tickets are sold on museivaticani.va. The Pantheon is a Roman temple that is now the Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres, under its famous open oculus. Book a timed ticket on the official Musei Italiani portal; entry is free for visitors under 18 and on the first Sunday of each month.
In Trastevere, Santa Cecilia is a minor basilica dedicated to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, and has been a cardinal's titular church since the 5th century. San Crisogono, on Piazza Sidney Sonnino, was established in the 4th century under Pope Sylvester I and is one of the oldest parish churches in Rome.
Some Trastevere churches have national or regional ties: Santa Maria dell'Orto is the national church of Japan in Rome, and San Giovanni Battista dei Genovesi is the regional church for Genoa. The guide also includes Santi Maria e Gallicano, the late-Baroque Franciscan church of Santi Quaranta e San Pasquale Baylon, the ancient Santa Maria della Luce and Sant'Agata in Trastevere. Dress modestly and keep quiet if you visit during a service.
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10 places in our guide
1. Vatican Museums & St. Peter's
Vatican
Museums (incl. Sistine Chapel) and St. Peter’s Basilica. Tickets on museivaticani.va.
2. Pantheon
Centro Storico
Roman temple, now the Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres, under its famous open oculus. Entry €7 from 1 July 2026. Reduced €2 for EU citizens aged 18–25 (also citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland; other nationalities only where Italy has a reciprocity agreement). Free under 18 and on the first Sunday of each month. Book a timed ticket on the official Musei Italiani portal.
3. Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orto
Rome
Santa Maria dell'Orto is a church in the Rione of Trastevere in Rome (Italy). It is the national church of Japan in Rome.
4. San Giovanni Battista dei Genovesi
Rome
San Giovanni Battista dei Genovesi is a Roman Catholic church on via Anicia in the Trastevere district of Rome. It is the regional church for Genoa.
5. Chiesa dei Santi Maria e Gallicano
Rome
Santi Maria e Gallicano is a Roman Catholic church in Rome, in the district of Trastevere, along via di S. Gallicano, 2.
6. Basilica di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
Rome
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is a titular church and minor basilica located in Trastevere, Rome. Dedicated to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, it has served as a cardinal titular church since the 5th century.
7. San Crisogono
Piazza Sidney Sonnino
Basilica di San Crisogono is a titular church and minor basilica located in Trastevere, Rome. Established in the 4th century under Pope Sylvester I, it is one of the oldest parish churches in the city and has served as a cardinal titular church since early Christianity.
8. Santi Quaranta e San Pasquale Baylon
Rome
Santi Quaranta Martiri e San Pasquale Baylon is a Franciscan Catholic church, built in a late-Baroque style, located on Via San Francesco a Ripa in the Rione Trastevere, Rome, Italy.
9. Santa Maria della Luce
Rome
The church of Santa Maria della Luce is an ancient church in the Rione of Trastevere in Rome, Italy.
10. Sant’Agata in Trastevere
Rome
Sant'Agata in Trastevere is one of the churches of Rome, located in the Trastevere district, at Largo San Giovanni de Matha, 91.
Questions travellers ask
- Where do I buy tickets for the Vatican Museums?
- On museivaticani.va. The museums include the Sistine Chapel and stand beside St. Peter's Basilica.
- Do I need a ticket for the Pantheon?
- Yes, book a timed ticket on the official Musei Italiani portal. Entry is free for visitors under 18 and on the first Sunday of each month.
- Which church in Rome is dedicated to the patron saint of music?
- Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, a minor basilica dedicated to Saint Cecilia. It has been a cardinal's titular church since the 5th century.
- Which Trastevere church dates from the 4th century?
- San Crisogono, established under Pope Sylvester I. It is one of the oldest parish churches in Rome.
- Is there a Japanese church in Rome?
- Yes. Santa Maria dell'Orto in Trastevere is the national church of Japan in Rome.