On Good Friday there is a Papal Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica at 5 pm, March 30.
At 9:15 pm, the Pope leads the stations of the cross, or Via Crucis, near the Colosseum. This ceremonial procession commemorates the fourteen stages of Christ’s passion.
At each station, the Pope reads a meditation in various languages. All the while, you can view a huge cross with burning lights.
Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, the Way of Sorrows or Via Crucis, is a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion. The stations grew out of imitations of Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem which is believed to be the actual path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. The object of the stations is to help the Christians faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ. It has become one of the most popular devotions, and the stations can be found in many Western Christian churches, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic. The ritual includes a series of 14 images that may vary by location, and prayers are said at each image to repair the suffering of Jesus during the passion. It is an amazingly emotional procession, regardless of religious beliefs.
While you’re in Rome, be sure to book a trip to the Vatican Museums. The museums are rightfully boasted as the largest, richest, most compelling and perhaps most comprehensive museum complex in the world. You may also pick up tickets to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums and take in the history are artwork that lives in all three locations. You may also book tickets to the museums and the lovely Vatican Gardens. As magnificent as Vatican City is, there are also tons of additional things to do and see in our Eternal City of Rome.
Among them is our crafted combo ticket to the Baroque Palace, Palazzo Barberini, which houses the treasures of the National Gallery of Ancient Art, a collection of about 500 works in 34 rooms. Plus, the ever so elegant Corsini Gallery is also included. Both locations are filled with masterful artwork from our famous, Italian painters, like Batoni, Mengs, van Wittel, Canaletto, Carriera, Fra Angelico, Luca Giordano, Rubens, Murrillo, Poussin, Brueghel, and Caravaggio.
If great wines and fabulous foods are more to your fancy, you must book a Roman cooking lesson to truly appreciate our plentiful pasta dishes. Just thinking about this unique event gets our tummies to growling! There is also a wine and cheese tasting opportunity that will blow you away! The tasting is offered in an Enoteca (Wine Bar) located in the eighteenth century Palazzetto Giangiacomo, in the heart of Rome. It is a family run wine bar that started as a wine-shop more than 50 years ago and was transformed into its present status by the third family generation.
Finally, if you prefer to just wander at your own pace, we have two hop on, hop off tours to recommend. The first is a 48-hour ticket to hop on and off one of our fun sightseeing bus trips and the other is a terrific Tiber River cruise. Even Rome residents love this relaxing opportunity to view the city’s beauty from the lazy river. A Segway tour of Rome at night will allow you to see the city from yet another perspective.
One of our favorites is the intrigue-filled tour of The Borgias. The once powerful Spanish family that contributed two popes to the Roman Church during the mid -14th century, Callistus III and his nephew Alexander VI. The names are associated with controversy and intrigue. But perhaps only a few know the truth about this important family and its relationship to the history of Rome. Join us on this fascinating journey through the alleys and squares of the city, where you’ll discover the places that still preserve the memory of the crimes and intrigues of the infamous Borgia family. It is as thought-provoking as it sounds!
As you can see, Rome offers something for everyone from religious sects, to foodies, to art lovers and detectives! We want to see you book your tickets today!