The Churches of Trastevere
Scroll down to see our walking routes and some blurbs about each site, or click “see more” under each site to the left for more in-depth info!
Trastevere is home to many churches, ranging from grand and famous to hole-in-the-wall hidden gems.
Follow this 25-minute route to explore churches with beautiful mosaics, architecture, and histories.
Remember to wear modest clothes to avoid any problems with entering religious sites!
To see the address of an individual site, click the hyperlinks beneath each church listed above.
San Francesco a Ripa
The first Franciscan Church in Rome, San Francesco a Ripa Grande is originally built upon a Benedictine monastery dating back to 949 AD. This site was popular for early pilgrims to the Holy See.
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
The Basilica di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is a unique baroque church dedicated to the young Christian martyr from the 3rd century. In the 9th century, the basilica was constructed and, since then, it has undergone various renovations and expansions that have led to the cultural monument present today.
San Benedetto in Piscinula
The church is a beautiful example of medieval restored architecture and contains one of the smallest bell towers in all of Rome. Legend goes that Benedictus, before earning his sainthood, stayed in a small cell in 470 – on the left-hand side of the chapel – before leaving Rome and his family to pursue a life of prayer in Lazio
San Crisogono
San Crisogono was built in the 4th century under Pope Sylvester I. The church was built in honor of the martyr Chrysogonus, who died during the persecution of Diocletian. It was rebuilt once in the 12th century and then again in 1626.
Santa Rufina
Saints Rufina and Secunda became martyrs the year 257 AD. A church was built in their honor in the 12th century, whose bell tower still stands.
Santa Maria in Trastevere
The church of Santa Maria in Trastevere is said to be one of the oldest Christian churches in Rome. In addition to serving as a gathering spot for tourists and church-goers alike, the Piazza di Santa Maria and the adjacent Piazza di San Calisto also have a bustling nightlife with murals and graffiti in the local Trastevere dialect
Sant’Egidio
The 17th-century Church of Sant’Egidio is dedicated to Saint Giles the Hermit. Today, the church is home to the headquarters of the Community of Sant'Egidio, a Catholic association now present in over 70 countries and dedicated to prayer, peace, and helping the poor.
Trastevere’s churches, despite their proximity to the Vatican, have never been part of great papal processions or important ecclesiastical ceremonies. They have remained important, first and foremost, as part of the story of the people associated in different ways with Trastevere. If you want to find out more about churches in Trastevere you can look at the following sites:
