Rome, Italy: On the Pilgrimage Trail

In Rome, you'll rub elbows with religious pilgrims from around the world. A major stop on the pilgrimage trail is San Giovanni in Laterano, the first Christian church in the city of Rome. Even today, it's the home church of the Bishop of Rome — the pope. The adjacent Holy Stairs are a one-of-a-kind experience. Each day, hundreds of faithful penitents climb these steps on their knees reciting a litany of prayers (tourists climb the staircases along the sides). For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.