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Between Cobblestones and Cathedrals: Rome's Hidden Pilgrimage
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The ancient cobblestones of Rome reveal a path less traveled – a sacred circuit connecting seven of Christianity's most significant churches. In this special episode, we strap on our hiking boots to tackle the Walk of the Seven Churches, a 25-kilometer pilgrimage that saints and ordinary faithful have followed for centuries.
What makes this urban adventure unique is that we're not exploring distant lands but rediscovering our home city through the eyes of pilgrims. During this Jubilee Year, the four papal basilicas – St. Peter's, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major – have opened their Holy Doors, creating a rare opportunity to experience these sacred thresholds as generations of pilgrims have before us.
Our journey takes us from the Spanish Steps to the Vatican, then south along the Tiber to St. Paul's imposing basilica. We walk the ancient Appian Way, passing the spot where tradition says St. Peter met Jesus while fleeing persecution. With each church, we encounter remarkable treasures – from the tomb of St. Sebastian to fragments of the True Cross brought from Jerusalem by St. Helena, from the Pope's official cathedral to the basilica where Pope Francis has chosen to be buried.
Through neighborhoods both familiar and unexplored, we discover how this pilgrimage transforms ordinary city streets into a spiritual pathway. The contrast between sacred spaces and urban chaos – security lines, traffic noise, closed doors during afternoon hours – becomes part of the experience itself, challenging us to find meaning amid modern distractions.
By journey's end, with 35,000 steps behind us, we've gained more than sore feet and forgiven sins. We've experienced our home city as countless pilgrims have for centuries, finding new appreciation for Rome's sacred geography and the tradition of pilgrimage itself. Sometimes the greatest adventures begin right at your doorstep – you just need the right eyes to see them.
Join us for this special field recording that captures the sounds, challenges, and discoveries of walking Rome's most sacred circuit. Then consider what pilgrimages might be waiting in your own hometown. What sacred paths lie hidden beneath the familiar streets you travel every day?
Make sure to follow us on Instagram to check out all of our travel pics!
Music used in intro:
Adventure Beyond by Alexander Nakarada
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8690-adventure-beyond
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Chapters
1. Poetic Introduction to Rome (00:00:00)
2. First Stop: St. Peter's Basilica (00:04:37)
3. Second Basilica: St. Paul's Outside the Walls (00:10:05)
4. Walking the Ancient Appian Way (00:13:47)
5. The Pope's Cathedral: St. John Lateran (00:18:16)
6. Holy Relics at Santa Croce (00:21:11)
7. Closed Doors at San Lorenzo (00:22:57)
8. Completing the Pilgrimage and Final Reflections (00:26:02)
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