The Jubilee in Rome is one of the most important religious events for the Catholic Church, generally held every 25 years. It attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world, who visit Rome’s main basilicas to gain plenary indulgence. In Rome, taking Peppe’s tour means wasting time on a tortuous and complicated route that is pointless. It seems that this saying originated in Rome, precisely in connection with the pilgrimages during the Jubilee, when the faithful got lost in the long spiritual itineraries.
In this article we will explain what it means to take Peppe’s tour for Romans
The saying originated in Rome and is closely related to the Jubilee and the concept of pilgrimage, although over time it has acquired a more colloquial meaning. To take Peppe’s tour means to get lost in the center of Rome, going around in circles, but always going back to the same places. Many will have experienced this feeling during trips to Rome.
The Seven Churches. Making a wrong turn in the center of Rome also happened to pilgrims who reached the Eternal City on foot to receive the Plenary Indulgence. Some groups of the faithful would take a wrong turn during the well-known tour of the Seven Churches and fail to finish the route.
Peppe’s tour. Less informed or more naïve pilgrims who were confused by Rome’s labyrinth of alleyways and ended up taking useless turns, repeating parts of the route without ever arriving at their destination.Basically going around Peppe. Peppe could refer to a generic or ironic nickname to represent these pilgrims who, without proper guidance, kept wandering around the city without concluding their journey. In common Roman parlance, going around Peppe has become a metaphor for a series of complications or circuitous turns that lead to nothing concrete. The connection with the Jubilee also reflects the difficulty of moving between churches and monuments in search of indulgence, although the term has been reinterpreted and used in a more secular and modern context.
Are Peppe’s tour and the Seven Churches tour the same thing?
Obviously not, they are not the same thing, although in Roman mass culture they can be associable concepts. While the Tour of the Seven Churches has a connotation of pilgrimage and devotion, Peppe’s tour is more casual and often has an ironic undertone.
The tour of the seven churches of Rome for the Jubilee
The Jubilee is a special holy year in the Catholic Church, first instituted in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII. During the Holy Year, pilgrims visiting Rome can obtain plenary indulgence, which is the complete remission of temporal punishments for sins confessed and forgiven. The Tour of the Seven Churches is a pilgrimage that the faithful can make to express penance and devotion. By visiting the seven main basilicas, they meditate on faith and the highlights of Christ’s life, as well as pray for the remission of sins and divine forgiveness. This pilgrimage takes on special spiritual significance during the Jubilee, as it enables the faithful to be reconciled with God through prayer, confession, and participation in liturgical celebrations. The traditional route of the Seven Churches Tour, instituted by St. Philip Neri in the 16th century, consists of visiting the seven main basilicas of Rome in a spiritual and penitential itinerary. This practice was especially popular during the Jubilee, but it can be done at any time. During the Jubilee, the Tour of the Seven Churches takes on an even deeper meaning as pilgrims seek to gain plenary indulgence through prayer and visiting sacred sites. Don’t risk taking Peppe’s famous tour; if you are traveling to Rome during the Jubilee period, it is better than being informed about the main itineraries.
The traditional itinerary
The Tour of the Seven Churches of Rome is the traditional pilgrimage that touches seven major basilicas in the city established by St. Philip Neri in the 16th century. To this day, it is a well-known route both for religious reasons and as an itinerary to discover the beauty of the Eternal City. If you want your trip to begin without going the wrong way, study well the basilicas and the route of the Tour of the Seven Churches to do during the Jubilee. This is a fairly simple itinerary among the basilicas and main churches of Rome. As you have seen in this article, in Rome doing Peppe’s tour means miscalculating the stages of this metropolitan journey.
- St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
Address: St. Peter’s Square
The most important basilica in the Catholic world, located in the heart of the Vatican. It is the starting point of pilgrimage. - Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
Address: Via Ostiense 186
The second largest basilica in Rome, built over the tomb of St. Paul. This church is located outside the ancient city walls. - Basilica of St. John Lateran
Address: Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano
It is the cathedral of Rome and the official seat of the Pope as bishop of the city. It is considered the “mother of all churches.” - Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore
One of the four papal basilicas, it is famous for its mosaics and Marian importance. - Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls
Address: Piazza di San Lorenzo
One of the seven patriarchal churches, it houses the relics of St. Lawrence, one of Rome’s most revered martyrs. - Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
Address: Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
This church houses important relics of the Passion of Christ, including pieces of the cross and nails from the crucifixion. - Basilica of St. Sebastian Outside the Walls
Address: Via Appia Antica 136
Located along the ancient Via Appia, this basilica preserves the catacombs and tomb of the martyr St. Sebastian.
Itinerary tips
Duration. The entire tour can take a full day, especially if you want to visit the churches at a leisurely pace and learn more about their history.
Transportation. It is possible to walk the route for the more determined, but since the churches are located in different areas of the city, many choose to use public transportation or rent bicycles/scooters.
Start and End. The traditional start is from St. Peter’s Basilica, while the end often occurs at St. Sebastian’s Basilica. Have you decided to go on a trip to Italy? Also read our article on Palermo’s Vucciria market.
