900+ churches

 Yes, it's true.  Rome has more than 900 churches.  They are everywhere.  Some have been repurposed, but in a respectful way.  I am always discovering a new church.  Always.  Today was an impressive walk around Rome.  Of course, I didn't plan it that way.  I just got lost quite a few times.  Hey ho.  And in a heat wave, Rome has you covered.  All around Rome are these darling old fountains.... and they work.... AND it's potable water.  I am always filling up my water bottle!

I stumbled upon the Basilica of San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio.  This is very near to the Victor Emanuele II monument on the Piazza Venezia so I have passed it many times.  This time it was open. It dates back to 336 when a Pope Mark (weird), who was the bishop of Rome, decided to have a church built to honor his patron saint.  A restoration was done in 792 which included the design for a series of mosaics in the apses.  These are, of course, wonderfully Byzantine:

 Here is the full experience: sound on for some monk chants:

The front of the basilica has marble that was 'borrowed' (re: never to be returned) from the Colosseum during the 15th century when Pope Paul II ordered the church to be updated to the Renaissance style:

The two lions are from the earlier centuries and they are so cute.  Look at this guy:

I went to the Vatican, St. Peter's Square, and there was no Pope.  Poop!  Usually he does a wee speech on Wednesdays.  It was lovely nonetheless:

On the way home, I ran into this lovely church, the Basilica Parrocchiale of San Giovani Battista dei Fiorentini:

And it's gorgeous.  

But, the fascinating thing was that they had a side chapel dedicated to Mary Magdalene, who is very important because she was the first to go into the tomb looking for Christ AND she was the first to encounter him, the resurrected Christ.  

And then they even have a relic, a foot bone, of Mary Magdalene.  This is a big deal because of the idea of her foot entering the tomb. 

I love relics, as you know!  Fabulous!