Basilica of Saint Mary Major

In italian : Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major is a marvel of art and architecture whose structure is that of the typical structure of Christian basilicas. It brings together several eras and styles: the early Christian structure, the medieval bell tower, the Renaissance and Baroque chapel, etc.

Presentation and description

In August 356, the Pope Liberius had a dream where Mary appeared to him. The snow fell at a place on Esquiline Hill, which she pointed out to him where to build the basilica. The church was also called Our Lady of the Snows.
However, it seems that a first basilica was erected and dedicated to Mary by Sixtus III after the Council of Ephesus of 431.

Facade of Basilica of St. Mary Major

Despite time and alterations, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major has preserved the three alleys of the 5th century AD, which are separated by 40 monolithic columns of marble and granite. The transept dates from 1288, the time of Nicholas IV, the ceiling dates from the Renaissance, the bell tower of the fourteenth is the top of Rome with its 75 meters. The side chapels were added in the 16th century.
The apse was built in the early 17th century by the architect Carlo Rainaldi, who redesigned an original Bernini project.
The new façade was designed by Ferdinando Fuga in the middle of the 18th century. It also redesigned the entire interior while retaining the original paleochristian structure. He is also the creator of the canopy and the altar.

The church has important chapels, such as the Sistine Chapel, also known as the Blessed Sacrament by Domenico Fontana (1585), the Pauline Chapel by Flaminio Ponzo (1605-1613). The first is a copy of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican and which preserves a popular icon of the Virgin Mary (Salus Populi) of the 9th century, which would have saved the city from a plague epidemic. Among the beauties preserved in the basilica is the Sforza Chapel. It was made in the 16th century by Giacomo dalla Porta from an original plan by Michelangelo.

Column of Peace and Esquiline’ Obelisk

In the centre of the Esquiline’ Square (Piazza dell’Esquilino in Italian), in front of the rear face of the basilica on the apse side, a large obelisk was erected in 1587, originating from the mausoleum of Augustus, whose entrance it adorned. While in the square opposite the main facade was erected in 1615 the Column of Peace, surmounted by a Mary with child, which is a large ancient Corinthian column, the only one left on the eight columns from the Basilica of Constantine.

Information, timetable and map

Opening hours of the basilica

• 7:00 am – 6:45 pm
• Free admission
• The guided tour allows access to the Loggia delle Benedizioni, the Popes Hall, and the Bernini Staircase
  Rate € 3,00

Links

• Saint Mary Major on Wikipedia
• The 060608 town city website
• Official website on vatican.va

Localisation

Address : Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 00100 Roma

Selection of hotels

Selection of hotels, chambers and apartments near Saint Mary the Major, ordered by price or by distance from the basilica.

• Good hotels and accommodation sorted by price (2 adults) less than 600 meters from Saint Mary the Major
• Good hotels and accommodation sorted BY DISTANCE from Saint Mary

Photo gallery