Rome is the city of Emperors and Popes, not Pharaohs. So, why are there so many Egyptian obelisks? These strange and massive needles crop up at every turn.

Pope Sixtus V, in his urban planning campaign, unearthed these massive granite monuments and created a visual network to help the pilgrims coming to Rome find the most important sites of prayer.

"From Tourist to Pilgrim" is a podcast by Liz Lev, with original music by Mara Miceli and Umberto D'Auria, editing and sound design by Mara Miceli, and directed by Johana Bronkova.