154. ... Rome: the city of God

There are more than 900 churches in Rome - the earliest dating back to the beginning of the 4th century. Prior to then, Christians worshiped in private - due to persecutions - however after the edict of Milan was issued in 313, Christians were permitted to worship and build churches openly. The generous and systematic patronage of Roman Emperor Constantine I changed the fortunes of the Christian church, and resulted in both architectural and artistic development. In the following decades, congregations built churches for public worship. And today it is almost impossible to walk up any street here in Rome - no matter how narrow or insignificant looking it is - without bumping into a church.

Some are huge and magnificently decorated inside with marble and gold, while others are quite tiny and almost hidden from view and quite austere inside. There are only a few included on the tourist trail - like the Pantheon and Saint Peter's of course - and these two are always packed with sight-seers - but I have found the less known churches off the beaten track are quite often the most beautiful - dripping with spectacular artworks - including Bernini and Michelangelo sculptures and Caravaggio paintings ... 

There were too many churches to feature in one blog - so here are a handful of images from the handful of churches that I actually visited ...

The chains of Saint Peter

Michelangelo's Moses

Euro 1 to see Moses lit up - well worth it ... !!! ...

 

I'll continue with God in my next posting and feature the magnificent mother of all churches here in Rome; the Cathedral of San Giovanni in Lateran ...