A Day for Basilicas (Rome, IT)

Today was pilgrimage day, after a visit to the Barberini Museum, the courtyard of which is in the photograph above.  I cannot believe it was my first visit to the Barberini Museum.  The collection is extraordinary, as is the Palazzo Barberini itself.  That family knew how to live and build a house.  You must put this on your list of places to visit when you come to Rome.  

Rear staircase of the palazzo.

The Barberini woodshed!

After the tour of the  Palazzo Barberini, I visited the basilicas of Mary Major, St. Pudenziana, and  St. John Lateran in that order.  Another 98 basilicas to visit and I get a plenary indulgence!  Here are a few photos of the basilicas.

Front of the Basilica of Mary Major

Rear of the basilica

The Blessed Mother perched in front of her basilica.

Statue of Pope Pius X under the main altar as he is praying before the reliquary of the wood of the crib of the Infant Jesus.

Part of tile floor of basilica.

Basilica of St. Pudenziana (oldest place of Christian worship in Rome, and home to the popes until the 4th century).

On the side of a building on the Via Merulana.

Obelisk on the side of the Basilica of St. John Lateran

That chair in the apse of the basilica makes the Pope the bishop of Rome!

Mosaic on the apse of the basilica.

Main altar of the basilica.

Statue of St. John the Baptist below the main altar.

Statue of St. Peter

Nave of the basilica

Tomb of Pope Leo XIII

Side altar of St. Francis of Assisi

Part of tile work on floor of the basilica.

Just to see if Larry is following my blog!