Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

The mosaics in the apse of Santa Maria Maggiore
The late 13th century mosaics in the apse of Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Cerfon)

The grand basilica of St. Mary Major is a wonderland of mosaics in a crummy neighborhood of Rome, Italy


The main facade of Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Tango7174)

This is the greatest—and by far best preserved—of Rome's four ancient basilican churches.

It marks the city skyline with Rome's tallest bell tower, a graceful 14th-century addition.

The facade mosaics

The main facade is a baroque mask that uses arcades and loggias to partially hide the fantastically mosaicked earlier facade from 1294–1308. Often, you can climb a set of stairs inside the atrium to view these incredible mosaics from up close.

The rear facade of Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Larry)
The rear facade of Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Larry)

The most interesting of these mosaic scenes recounts the legend that this basilica was founded in the 350s by Pope Liberius, who had a vision of the Madonna one night in August telling him to raise the church on the spot and along the outlines that would be demarcated by a miraculous snowfall the next morning.

Every August 15 they hold a special Mass here with the snowfall beautifully reenacted using pale flower petals that drift down from several removed ceiling panels.

Inside Santa Maria Maggiore

Entering the basilica itself is like stepping back in time, so well is its basic design and decor preserved from the 6th century.

The interior of Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore.
The interior of Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Tango7174)

The gargantuan space is some 284 feet long, a dark echoey environment suited to religious pilgrimages.

The glowing coffered ceiling was the work of Giuliano da Sangallo. The brilliant gold leaf adorning it is said to be made from very first gold brought back from the Americas by Christopher Columbus (a gift from Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to the pope).

The floor was inlaid with marble chips in geometric patterns by the the great Cosmati clan around 1150, while the mosaics lining the nave and covering the triumphal arch before the altar are glittering testaments to the skill of 5th-century craftsmen.

The apse's Coronation of the Virgin mosaics (pictured at the top of the page) were designed by Iacopo Torriti in the 1290s.

The most striking later additions are the two magnificent and enormous late Renaissance and baroque chapels that flank the altar to form a transept (the Sistina Chapel on the left is particularly sumptuous).

Tips & links

Details
ADDRESS

Piazza S. Maria Maggiore
tel. +39-06-6988-6800
www.vatican.va

OPEN

Daily 7am–6:45pm

ADMISSION

Free

Roma Pass: No

How long does Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore take?

Planning your day: You can wander the church in a quick 20–30 minutes. » Rome itineraries

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore tours
Mass

You can attend services at Santa Maria Maggiore daily at 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am (in Latin on Sundays), 11am (not on Sundays), noon, and 6pm. Vespers is at 5:15pm on Sudnays.

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Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of St. Mary Major)
ADDRESS

Piazza S. Maria Maggiore
tel. +39-06-6988-6800
www.vatican.va

OPEN

Daily 7am–6:45pm

ADMISSION

Free
Roma Pass: No

TRANSPORT

Bus: 16, 70, 71, 75, 360, 649, 714, 717, C3
Metro: Termini (AB), Cavour (B), or Vittorio Emanuele (A)
Hop-on/hop-off: Santa Maria Maggiore

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