Santa Maria Maggiore

The basilica of Santa Prassede was founded in the 8th century, but it is possible that it has older origins. The Roman senator and Christian convert Pudente (1st-2nd century) owned a villa, the remains of which are nine metres below the present basilica, in which he hid persecuted Christians. In 1198 Pope Innocent III awarded the church to the monks of Vallombrosa, who still own it today. Due to many modifications, the church had lost its original appearance, but during the 19th and 20th centuries several interventions were aimed at recovering the medieval structures by destroying the later additions.

The church of Sant'Antonio Abate all'Esquilino had an annexed hospital, predating the church and built in the second half of the 13th century, for the treatment of people suffering from "St Anthony's fire" (Shingles). The church was built in 1308 to replace a pre-existing church called Sant'Andrea cata barbara (from the 5th century); it was then rebuilt in 1481 by Pope Sixtus IV and underwent a new internal restoration in the 18th century. The façade, on the other hand, is the work of Antonio Muñoz and dates from the restoration of the church in the first half of the 20th century. In 1928, the church and its surroundings were purchased by the Holy See; the church was given to the Russian Catholics of the Byzantine rite.

The basilica of Santa Pudenziana dates from the 5th century, but the present basilica is largely the result of a 16th century restoration. The bell tower was added in the 13th century and a room in the left aisle was closed for construction. The restoration work completed in 1588 changed the structure of the church by demolishing the portico, removing the medieval choir and building a few pillars to reinforce the columns. Today it is the national church of the Philippines and the seat of the homonymous cardinal title.