Religious studies school trips to Rome

Commissioned in 1480, the Sistine Chapel is the site of the papal conclave and is home to Michelangelo’s elaborate ceiling and Last Judgment fresco. This powerful building offers an excellent location to discuss the role and selection of the Pope with your students, as they absorb the building’s significance in Rome and explore its wide selection of religious art.

Explore the role and importance of religion in the 2,000-year-old Colosseum, where gladiators and beasts once battled. A legendary site immortalised in film, the Colosseum is always popular among our student groups. Nearby, you can also tour the adjacent Forum and see the ruins of ancient Rome’s most exclusive neighbourhood, where emperors lived in luxury.

Embark on a journey through time at the Mausoleum of Hadrian, which holds many ancient tales within its walls. Initially erected for the Roman Emperor Hadrian more than 1,800 years ago, the building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum which walks visitors through its vast, storied history.

One of the world’s holiest Catholic sites and largest churches, this cavernous building features a breathtaking dome with masterpieces by Michelangelo and Bernini. It won’t take much encouragement for your students to study the power of Catholicism and the importance of pilgrimage as they experience this Vatican City highlight – one of our favourite excursions in Rome.

The widest stairway in Europe, Rome’s Spanish Steps are famous worldwide for their unique design, having been immortalised in several films and television shows. The steps were built in the 17th century to link the Spanish square with the Trinità dei Monti church, and today make up one of Rome’s most-visited attractions. Located at the foot of the steps, the 17th-century Baroque Barcaccia Fountain adds to the site’s grandeur.

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Trevi Fountain – a firm favourite among Equity staff. One of the most famous and photographed fountains in the world, the fountain dates back to the 17th century and features incredible Baroque details which will amaze your students. We recommend visiting in the evening to enjoy the view of the fountain lit up. Don’t forget to throw a penny in! Who knows, you may return to Rome…

As the seat of the Catholic religion and home of the Pope, there’s nowhere better for your students to explore the history and development of Catholicism than in Vatican City. In the Apostolic Palace, your group can experience the wonder of the remarkable Sistine Chapel, and explore the world’s largest museum complex while appreciating the power of this independent state.

Enjoy the extravagance of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore on this excursion, which features the largest of Rome’s churches to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Students will be astounded by the church’s architecture which covers several periods of history in Rome, from its 14th-century Romanesque bell tower, Renaissance frescoed ceiling and 18th-century Baroque facade, to a series of stunning 5th-century mosaics.

Said to be the very same staircase that Jesus walked up at the residence of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, the Scala Sancta are a set of 28 marble steps brought to Rome by St Helena in the 4th century. Since the 1500s, the staircase has become a site for pilgrims across the world who climb the stairs on their knees on their way to the Sancta Sanctorum – an ancient private chapel of Popes.

The largest catacombs in the wider Rome area, the Catacombs of San Callisto are guaranteed to pique the interest of your students. As the official cemetery of the Roman Church during the Roman Empire, archaeologists have uncovered the tombs of 16 Popes, thousands of Christians and dozens of martyrs at the site, spread across over 20 kilometres of tunnels that lay hidden beneath the city.

The Pope’s main place of worship for more than 1,000 years, this monumental cathedral is an essential stop on school trips to Rome, offering your students the perfect setting to contemplate the significance of religion in the city’s history. Built in the early 4th century, the archbasilica is dedicated to Jesus Christ and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, ranking superior to all other churches of the Roman Catholic Church since its consecration.

For an extraordinary view into the extravagance of ancient Rome, look no further than the Pantheon – one of the best-preserved buildings from the era. Built almost 2,000 years ago, this former Roman temple offers a lasting testimony to the skill and creativity of Roman classical architecture, and is a must-see for students to fully comprehend the culture of this ancient civilisation.

With its ornate Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), towering Palazzo Pamphilj and beautiful Church of Saint-Agnese in Agone, the Piazza Navona is the archetype of Roman Baroque. A popular meeting place for tourists and locals alike, the piazza also features a colourful cast of street artists and stalls for your students to view, as well as fantastic cafes and restaurants to stop at for a quick bite to eat.

Fantastically frescoed throughout, the suburban Villa Farnesina is an excellent example of Renaissance art and architecture alike, where artists such as Raphael, Sebastiano del Piombo and Il Sodoma have made their mark. Originally built in the 16th century for Agostino Chigi, a wealthy banker from Siena, the villa is an excellent setting for your students to appreciate classic Italian extravagance.