Churches: The Four Major Basilicas

  1. St. Peter’s Basilica
  2. Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
  3. Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
  4. Basilica of St. Mary Major

SUGGESTED ITINERARY:

The four major Basilicas can be covered in half a day.

1) Begin with St. Peter’s because it usually has the strictest security and longest line before entry.  It officially opens at 7:00 am but pilgrims form lines as early as 6:00 am.

2) Next go to the farthest out which is St. Paul outside the Walls.

3-4) St. Mary Major and John Lateran are both easily interchangeable because they can be accessed by major bus routes and the metro.

This itinerary would take a whole day if one begins with a Wednesday Papal audience at St. Peter’s Basilica which is usually from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Quoted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_basilica