Visiting the Holy Doors in Rome during the Jubilee Year was one of the most meaningful experiences we have ever had in the city. The Eternal City is always unforgettable, but a Jubilee Year adds a layer of emotion, purpose, and history that you can feel everywhere you go.
Because the Holy Doors are only opened during a Jubilee Year, the experience feels rare and time sensitive. Knowing the doors would soon close made our visit even more memorable. This post is a recap of what it was like to visit the Holy Doors in Rome during the Jubilee Year, including the four major basilicas we visited and what we learned from experiencing Rome at this moment in time.
What Are the Holy Doors in Rome
The Holy Doors, also known as Porta Santa, are special doors found in Rome’s major papal basilicas. During a Jubilee Year, the doors are ceremonially opened and pilgrims walk through them as a symbolic act of faith, renewal, and hope. Outside of Jubilee years, the Holy Doors are traditionally sealed.
Even if you are not visiting Rome for religious reasons, witnessing this tradition is one of the most unique experiences you can have in the city because it only happens during Jubilee Years.
What Rome Feels Like During the Jubilee Year
Rome during the Jubilee Year feels different from a typical trip. Yes, there are more visitors, but the crowds feel more purposeful. You see groups of pilgrims walking together at sunrise, people waiting quietly outside basilicas, and a calm sense of intention even in the busiest places.
There is also a different kind of silence inside the churches. People move slower. Conversations soften. It feels like the entire city is participating in something bigger than tourism.
For us, that atmosphere became one of the strongest memories of the trip.
Visiting the Holy Doors in Rome: The Four Basilicas We Experienced
During the Jubilee Year, the Holy Doors in Rome are open at the four major papal basilicas in Rome. Visiting all four became the centerpiece of our time in the city. Each basilica felt completely different, and each Holy Door carried its own unique energy.
St. Peter’s Basilica Holy Door Recap
St. Peter’s Basilica is the most famous Holy Door in Rome and the one most people think of when they hear the words Jubilee Year. The experience starts long before you reach the door itself. Approaching St. Peter’s feels like walking into the heart of history.
The line moved slowly, but it felt respectful. People were quiet, patient, and focused. The size of the basilica, the scale of the square, and the sense of anticipation make it impossible not to feel emotional.
Walking through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica was powerful. Even if you arrive thinking of it as a cultural experience, the moment tends to hit you in a way you do not expect.
St. John Lateran Holy Door Recap
St. John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome and one of the most important churches in the world, but it feels calmer than St. Peter’s. This was one of the most peaceful Holy Door visits of the trip.
The Holy Door here felt personal rather than dramatic. There were fewer crowds, more space, and a quiet sense of reflection. We noticed people moving through slowly, sometimes stopping to pray or touch the doorframe.
If St. Peter’s is the grand and unforgettable centerpiece, St. John Lateran is the steady and underrated highlight.
St. Mary Major Holy Door Recap
St. Mary Major is one of the most beautiful basilicas in Rome and it felt especially special during the Jubilee Year. The light inside the church is warm, the mosaics are stunning, and the atmosphere feels softer than the other basilicas.
Walking through the Holy Door at St. Mary Major felt peaceful and comforting. This was the stop that made us slow down the most, not because we planned it that way, but because the basilica naturally encourages you to take your time.
If you only visit one additional Holy Door outside of St. Peter’s, this one is an excellent choice.
St. Paul Outside the Walls Holy Door Recap
St. Paul Outside the Walls is farther from central Rome, which means it often feels less crowded and more relaxed. That distance is part of what made it so memorable for us. After multiple days of busy Rome streets, this basilica felt like a breath of fresh air.
Walking through the Holy Door at St. Paul Outside the Walls felt like the closing chapter of our Holy Doors experience. It was calm, spacious, and deeply satisfying. It gave us a sense of completion that we did not expect.
What Surprised Us Most About Visiting the Holy Doors
We expected crowds and long lines. We expected history and beauty. What surprised us most was how much the Jubilee Year shaped our entire trip.
The Holy Doors in Rome did not feel like just another stop on our Rome itinerary. They gave our days a rhythm and a theme. They made us slow down. They made us pay attention.
We also noticed how patient and supportive people were. Even with crowds, the atmosphere felt calm. Many people were there for deeply personal reasons, and that purpose carried through the entire experience.
Why Visiting the Holy Doors Before They Close Felt So Meaningful
Knowing the Holy Doors would soon close made the experience feel even more significant. It is one thing to visit famous sites in Rome that will always be there. It is another thing to witness a tradition that only happens during a Jubilee Year.
As we walked through each Holy Door, we kept thinking about how many people had traveled across the world for this moment and how long it would be before the doors opened again.
That sense of timing, of being there at exactly the right moment, is what made the experience unforgettable.
Is Visiting the Holy Doors During the Jubilee Year Worth It
Yes. Visiting the Holy Doors during the Jubilee Year in Rome was absolutely worth it.
It was worth it for the beauty of the basilicas, the spiritual atmosphere, and the feeling of witnessing something rare. It made Rome feel even more alive, and it created a deeper connection to the city’s history and traditions.
Even if you are not Catholic, the experience is still powerful because it is about more than religion. It is about people, history, hope, and the idea of renewal.
Final Thoughts on Visiting the Holy Doors in Rome During the Jubilee Year
Rome will always be unforgettable, but the Holy Doors in Rome being open during the Jubilee Year made this trip feel especially unique. It was the kind of experience that stays with you long after the flight home.
As the Jubilee Year ends and the Holy Doors close again, we feel incredibly grateful we got to visit while they were open. It reminded us that some of the most meaningful travel moments are the ones you cannot repeat on demand.
If you are looking for a once in a lifetime experience in Rome, visiting the Holy Doors during the Jubilee Year is one of the most unforgettable things you can do.
