Mosaic Masterpieces of Rome Sacred Stories in the Eternal City

Our mosaic masterpieces tour begins in the spectacular ancient church of Santi Cosma and Damiano. Originally built in honor of Valerius Romulus, son of the Emperor Maxentius, this one-time pagan temple is built right into the fabric of the ancient Roman Forum, and was transformed into a Christian church in the ⁣⁣year 527 by Pope Felix IV. Dedicated to the Greek doctor brothers Cosmas and Damian, the church boasts amazing sixth-century mosaics depicting some pretty wacky apocalyptic imagery.

At the center Christ descends to earth in a kaleidoscope of vibrant color, while saints and prelates are busy in conversation all around him. Pope Felix himself, meanwhile, humbly presents a model of the church for Christ’s approval. On our tour we’ll learn about the mosaic’s fascinating and complex iconography, featuring a series of beautifully portrayed sheep, a phoenix, and even palm trees.

Next we’re heading into the heart of one of Rome’s most beautiful neighborhoods. The narrow streets of chic Monti are home to buzzing wine bars and boutiques, but things weren’t always so salubrious around here. Thousands of years ago this was ancient Rome’s most notorious slum, a vast area that extended from near the Imperial Fora all the way to the Esquiline Hill. Home to a large population of prostitutes and ne’er do wells, The creaking tenements of the Suburra were extremely unsafe, and fire ripped through the cramped dwellings with alarming regularity.

Exploring Monti today, you’d never guess the dark history of one of Rome’s most glamorous quarters! We’ll be taking a stroll up the neighborhood’s major thoroughfare, Via Urbana to the next stop on our tour, the extraordinary but out-of-the-way church of Santa Pudenziana.

Despite the fact that you won’t see Santa Pudenziana on most tourist itineraries in Rome, this venerable basilica is home to an extraordinary hidden treasure inside. The church itself is one of the very oldest in Rome, with origins dating all the way back to the second century AD. The real highlight here is the apse mosaic, a stunning example of early-Christian art.

Commissioned by Pope Innocent I in the wake of the Gothic sack of Rome in 410 AD, the mosaic portrays Christ seated on an emperor's throne, flanked by apostles dressed in the distinctive togas of Roman senators - this fascinating fusion of Roman imperial iconography and classical style with Christian themes showcases the pivotal transformation of ancient Roman civilization into a new Christian era. This beautiful mosaic was to have a seismic impact on the history of western art, and established many aspects of Christian iconography that you’ll see repeated all across Rome and beyond.

The 9th-century reign of Pope Paschal 1st ushered in a great golden age of art in Rome, revitalizing the battered Dark-Age city in the process. As a wave of iconoclasm devastated the prospects of artists and mosaicists in contemporary Constantinople, the enterprising pontiff invited the newly unemployed craftsmen to Rome with open arms and had them set about beautifying the city’s churches - and burnishing his own family’s legacy.

Perhaps the most spectacular result of this happy coming together is the marvelous church of Santa Prassede. A series of glittering mosaics decorate the church’s sanctuary, featuring an array of apostles and angels, as well the pious sisters Prassede and Pudenziana themselves, dressed in the opulent outfits of Byzantine princesses.

Our tour concludes in one of the most important churches in Rome. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and founded, according to tradition, in the wake of a miraculous 5th-century snowfall, Santa Maria Maggiore has been a pilgrimage destination for the faithful and art lovers alike for over 1,500 years. First amongst equals in the church’s stunning array of artistic masterpieces is the mosaic cycle portraying key events from the Old Testament that adorn its nave.

These 5th-century artworks seem to offer a fusion of classical style with Christian subject matter: a highly realistic style showcases the fabulous skill of ancient Roman artists, turned towards a new goal of immortalizing the heroes of Christian doctrine like Abraham and Isaac, Joshua, and Moses. On our tour your expert art-historian guide will point out fascinating scenes like the Parting of the Red Sea, the Hospitality of Abraham, and sparkling depictions of Jerusalem and Bethlehem - fascinating time-capsules into a distant age.