Rome: Ancient Jubilee in the 4 Major Basilicas

Begun in the year 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII, the Church has encouraged pilgrims to come to the four most important churches in Christendom - the Major Basilicas - and to enter into them through their holy doors. There are only 4 Major Basilicas in the world - the highest ranking of all churches - and they are all in Rome. The highest rank of all of these is the Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran - the Cathedral of Rome - and thus the Mother Church of the entire world. Following in the steps of countless saints and pilgrims for centuries and millenia before you, we give you the chance to visit the official Four Papal Major Basilicas of Rome and dispose yourselves towards the receipt of the attached indulgences. Pilgrims booked with us on this tour will have the chance to enter into each of these Papal Basilicas with an expert guide. Our tour begins at the Vatican with the Basilica of St Peter built over the place where St Peterś body still lies. Once you have entered into St Peters, our expert Catholic guide will give you a tour of the interior of the Basilica including Michelangelo's Pietà, the relics and altars of the major saints of the Catholic Church and the history involved and of course the body of St Peter buried underneath the High Altar here. After the Basilica of St Peter, pilgrims are then transported by private air conditioned chauffered car to the Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls where the remains of the great Apostle of the Gentiles, St Paul, are to this day. Pilgrims will see the chains that bound St Paul during his incarceration and house arrest here in Rome before also viewing his newly excavated Sarcophagus before being given a tour of the rest of this ancient Theodosian Basilica. From there, the group is once again transported by private car to the Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran (San Giovanni) - the Cathedral of Rome. Here, you will again receive a detailed tour of the interior and its history including the story of the ancient mosaics, and stand before the heads of Sts Peter & Paul, brought into the Basilica and placed above the altar in the year 1300. Finally, you will once more board your private transport and continue on to the ancient Basilica of St Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) - perhaps the oldest church dedicated to Mary in Rome, but certainly the most important - to once more marvel at it's golden interior and learn all about the fascinating features including the different popes buried here, the relics of the crib of the nativity of Christ, the miraculous icon of Salus Populi Romani and countless other stunning features. The Four Major Basilicas now completed, you can count yourself as one of the few who have managed to keep this ancient pilgrimage practice - to visit the 4 most important churches in Christendom. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience for you to plug into the life of the Church and experience what countless saints have experienced through the years.