The third itinerary crosses Rome from north to south beginning in St. Peter's Square and finishing up at the patriarchal basilica of San Sebastiano on the Via Appia (the Appian Way). From St. Peter's Square you head for Castel Sant'Angelo (which stands on the remains of the ancient tomb of the Emperor Hadrian) and across the Sant'Angelo bridge (flanked by statues by Bernini). Continuing along Via dei Banchi Vecchi and then Via del Pellegrino you follow the route Julius II (1503-1513) indicated for visitors. This leads to Via dei Giubbonari and then to the ancient Jewish ghetto at the foot of the Capitoline hill near the ruins of the ancient theater of Marcellus. Following Via Luigi Petroselli you come to the Temple of Fortuna Virilis and the circular Temple of Vesta opposite the early Christian basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin with its Romanesque campanile and colored tile decoration. Walking along the left side of the Circus Maximus you can see what remains of the ancient chariot race track and up to the left, the ruins of Domus Augustana. When you get to the beautiful tree-lined avenue of the Terme di Caracalla you can see the monumental ruins of these Roman baths. Beyond that, the road leads to Via di Porta San Sebastiano which, several hundred meters further on, becomes the Appian Way. The "Regina Viarum" goes past the church of Santa Maria in Palmis (famous as the "Domine quo vadis" church) and the catacombs of San Callisto, and then on to the basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura sitting on top of the catacombs. This is the arrival point of the third itinerary.
A number of variants to the basic third itinerary are suggested:
a) After taking the Sant'Angelo bridge across the Tiber, an interesting variation is to follow straight along Via Giulia.
Via Giulia was designed by Bramante upon instructions from Julius II, who wanted a direct route to St. Peter's. On the right side of the street rises the church of San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini. Nearby there are other interesting churches: Santa Maria in Monserrato, Sant'Eligio degli Orefici and San Girolamo della Carità.
b) The second variant leads from Via Arenula to Via delle Botteghe Oscure, where the Polish national church of San Stanislao is found. At the end of the street, you climb up to the Campidoglio Square designed by Michelangelo;
the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli towers to the left. Back down the steps and to the left down Via del Teatro di Marcello, you reach the baroque church of Santa Maria in Campitelli.
c) Instead of heading towards the Appian Way, another variation on the basic itinerary leads up the Celio (the Caelian hill) to Santa Maria in Domnica. Nearby stands the handsome basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo as well as the circular-plan church of Santo Stefano Rotondo (where the tortures of the saints are depicted).
