Set in a fertile valley hemmed in by tall sandstone cliffs, the relatively large town of Roma is, as its name suggests, the site of the country’s oldest Catholic mission, founded by Father Joseph Gérard in 1862.
Situated on the southern outskirts of town, the Roma Mission is dominated by a massive sandstone church that dates to the late 19th century. The church incorporates the tomb of Father Joseph Gérard, who served at Roma until his death in 1914, and also of Archbishop Emmanuel Mabathoana, a great-grandson of Moshoeshoe I who was consecrated as the first Archbishop of Maseru and Metropolitan of Basutoland in 1961.
Roma is an important centre of learning. The town centre is dominated by the leafy campus of the National University of Lesotho, which started life in 1945 as a Catholic University College, was secularised in 1965, and has since grown to become the kingdom’s premier institute of higher education. Roma is also home to two highly regarded gender-segregated Catholic schools, the male-only Christ the King High and its female counterpart Saint Mary's High, and the Roma College of Nursing, which offers diplomas in nursing and midwifery.
The local focal point of tourist activity in Roma is Roma Trading Post, which started life in 1903 as a small shop founded by John Thorn and is still in the same family more than a century later. In addition to offering accommodation and restaurant facilities, Roma Trading Point can arrange a variety of guided or self-guided pony treks, hikes and mountain bike excursions into the surrounding hills.
Sleeping: The family-run Roma Trading Post offers comfortable accommodation on the outskirts of Roma.
Eating: The Roma Trading Post is a popular lunch stop with tourists, but the high street also boasts several lively eateries and bars catering mainly to students.
Access: Roma lies about 35km south of Maseru along the surfaced A5. Allow one hour in either direction. Plenty of public transport runs back and forth.
Preparations: Roma Mission is particularly impressive on Sunday mornings, when the main church hosts a colourful and musical mass complete with African-style choirs and drums
© Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation
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