{"id":20552,"date":"2023-10-26T17:01:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T16:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/?p=20552"},"modified":"2025-12-28T21:33:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T21:33:17","slug":"santa-maria-maggiore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore","title":{"rendered":"8 Reasons Why You Should Visit Rome\u2019s Santa Maria Maggiore Church"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would not be an understatement to say that Rome is a city of churches. The Italian capital boasts more than 900 Catholic places of worship. And of the must-see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/churches-in-italy\">churches in Italy<\/a>, Santa Maria Maggiore is near the top of the list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read along as we discover the ins and outs of this iconic church in the Eternal City, and why it\u2019s worth visiting during a trip to the city.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20554\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20554\" class=\"wp-image-20554 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/francesco-alberti-QLE7iIYH7vA-unsplashres.jpg\" alt=\"top of a church\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/francesco-alberti-QLE7iIYH7vA-unsplashres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/francesco-alberti-QLE7iIYH7vA-unsplashres-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20554\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Maria Maggiore, also known as the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore or the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@frensisalberti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Francesco Alberti<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#Brief_History_of_the_Basilica_of_Santa_Maria_Maggiore\" >Brief History of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#8_Reasons_to_Visit_Romes_Santa_Maria_Maggiore_Church\" >8 Reasons to Visit Rome\u2019s Santa Maria Maggiore Church<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#Its_one_of_the_pilgrimage_churches_of_Rome\" >It\u2019s one of the pilgrimage churches of Rome<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#Its_a_UNESCO-listed_site\" >It\u2019s a UNESCO-listed site<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#Its_home_to_an_ancient_Egyptian_obelisk\" >It\u2019s home to an ancient Egyptian obelisk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#It_has_a_stunning_golden_Renaissance-era_ceiling\" >It has a stunning golden Renaissance-era ceiling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#%E2%80%A6_And_beautiful_mosaics\" >\u2026 And beautiful mosaics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#%E2%80%A6_And_legendary_paintings\" >\u2026 And legendary paintings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#Its_home_to_Romes_other_Sistine_Chapel\" >It\u2019s home to Rome\u2019s other Sistine Chapel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#There_are_iconic_tombs_inside\" >There are iconic tombs inside\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_Santa_Maria_Maggiore\" >FAQ\u00b4s &#8211;\u00a0Santa Maria Maggiore<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#Is_there_an_entrance_fee_to_visit\" >Is there an entrance fee to visit?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#What_should_I_wear_when_visiting\" >What should I wear when visiting?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/santa-maria-maggiore\/#How_long_should_I_plan_to_spend_there\" >How long should I plan to spend there?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brief_History_of_the_Basilica_of_Santa_Maria_Maggiore\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brief History of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The papal basilica of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vatican.va\/various\/basiliche\/sm_maggiore\/index_en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santa Maria Maggiore<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> owes its existence to a meeting that took place in Ephesus, near modern day Sel\u00e7uk, on the Agean coast of what is now Turkey about one thousand miles southeast of Rome. It was at the Council of Ephesus in the year 431 when Church authorities decided that Mary was, in fact, officially the Mother of God. That further accelerated the cult of Mary and soon churches would rise, their spires pointing heavenward, in honor of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of those churches is Santa Maria Maggiore, built in 432, just a year after the Council of Ephesus. Situated on Esquiline Hill\u2014the tallest of Rome\u2019s legendary seven hills\u2014and more or less sandwiched between the Roman Forum and Termini Train Station near the bustling Via Cavour, the basilica is hard to miss.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now with a bit of history out of the way, let&#8217;s explore the top reasons why you should make a visit to this church.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20557\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20557\" class=\"wp-image-20557 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/leonhard-niederwimmer-qK72NRoR4ks-unsplashres.jpg\" alt=\"church in the city\" width=\"1200\" height=\"872\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/leonhard-niederwimmer-qK72NRoR4ks-unsplashres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/leonhard-niederwimmer-qK72NRoR4ks-unsplashres-768x558.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20557\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The basilica exhibits a blend of architectural styles, including Early Christian, Baroque, and Renaissance elements. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/s\/users\/Leonhard-Niederwimmer.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leonhard Niederwimmer<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Reasons_to_Visit_Romes_Santa_Maria_Maggiore_Church\"><\/span><strong>8 Reasons to Visit Rome\u2019s Santa Maria Maggiore Church<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_one_of_the_pilgrimage_churches_of_Rome\"><\/span><strong>It\u2019s one of the pilgrimage churches of Rome<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re more than just a casual tourist and are on a pilgrimage, Saint Mary Major, as it\u2019s referred to in English, is one of the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome\u2014along with San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore, San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, San Paolo Fuori le Mura, and St. Peter\u2019s Basilica.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you\u2019re on a pilgrimage, some of the precious relics that have a home in Santa Maria Maggiore include a piece of Jesus\u2019 manger, also known as the Holy Crib, and a piece of the True Cross, among a legion of others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_a_UNESCO-listed_site\"><\/span><strong>It\u2019s a UNESCO-listed site<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve come just to appreciate this splendid sanctuary, there is a lot of grandeur to gawk at inside and outside this UNESCO-listed site. Starting from what you see as you approach, you may notice the tall 14th-century campanile; it is, in fact, the tallest bell tower in Rome at 250 feet. All existing churches in the 17th and 18th centuries in Rome got the Baroque treatment, save for Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Saint Mary Major\u2019s facelift came in 1761.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20556\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20556\" class=\"wp-image-20556 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/yan-ots-c3UP6W80GRE-unsplashres.jpg\" alt=\"stairs spiraling\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/yan-ots-c3UP6W80GRE-unsplashres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/yan-ots-c3UP6W80GRE-unsplashres-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20556\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Santa Maria Maggiore was built in the 5th century, during the papacy of Pope Sixtus III (432-440). Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/s\/users\/yan-ots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yan Ots<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_home_to_an_ancient_Egyptian_obelisk\"><\/span><strong>It\u2019s home to an ancient Egyptian obelisk<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the rear of the church, facing Via Cavour, is one of the many obelisks in Rome. There are 13 in all. Some of them were poached (aka stolen) from Egypt during the Roman Empire and others were made in Egypt at the request of the rich and powerful during the Roman Empire. The one at Santa Maria Maggiore falls into the latter category. It was originally at the Mausoleum of Augustus and was eventually relocated and erected here in 1786 by Pope Pius VI.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20562\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20562\" class=\"wp-image-20562 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/46020857052_2a5d6a1211_kres.jpg\" alt=\"Egyptian obelisk\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/46020857052_2a5d6a1211_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/46020857052_2a5d6a1211_kres-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20562\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rome is home to numerous ancient Egyptian obelisks, many of which were brought to the city during the Roman Empire. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/flickr.com\/photos\/stella12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deb Nystrom<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"It_has_a_stunning_golden_Renaissance-era_ceiling\"><\/span><strong>It has a stunning golden Renaissance-era ceiling<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once inside, the first thing a visitor notices is the golden Renaissance-era ceiling of the nave. This is historically significant as it is said to be brought back by Columbus, the first gold brought to Europe from the New World. It was donated to Pope Alexander VI by Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. The 250-foot-long nave, set off by 36 thick Ionic columns, is architecturally interesting as it is exactly in the height-width proportion of 1:1.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20564\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20564\" class=\"wp-image-20564 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/15046907217_d318fe3f19_kres.jpg\" alt=\"ceiling of a church with beautiful gold detail\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1029\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/15046907217_d318fe3f19_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/15046907217_d318fe3f19_kres-768x659.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20564\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The ceiling of Santa Maria Maggiore is a true masterpiece of art and architecture. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/garyullah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gary Campbell-Hall<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%A6_And_beautiful_mosaics\"><\/span><strong>\u2026 And beautiful mosaics<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mosaics above the nave date back to the church\u2019s founding in the fifth century and are in the Byzantine style and tell Abrahamic stories from the Old Testament. The murals above the mosaics are some of the earliest remaining depictions of the Virgin Mary.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20568\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20568\" class=\"wp-image-20568 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/52594450462_a08eb4570e_kres.jpg\" alt=\"mosaic inside a church\" width=\"1200\" height=\"836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/52594450462_a08eb4570e_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/52594450462_a08eb4570e_kres-768x535.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20568\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The mosaics inside Santa Maria Maggiore are exquisite examples of artistic craftsmanship. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/profzucker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steven Zucker<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%A6_And_legendary_paintings\"><\/span><strong>\u2026 And legendary paintings<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Borghese Chapel, also known as the Pauline Chapel, dating from 1611, there is a legendary painting. It\u2019s historically attributed to Saint Luke\u2014supposedly the first Christian painter. Art historians, though, have dated it to the ninth century as it\u2019s decidedly medieval in style. The painting of Mary and the infant Jesus is nicknamed \u201cSavior of the People of Rome\u201d because supposedly Pope Gregory lugged it around Rome in the year 593 to spare the city of the plague.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20570\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20570\" class=\"wp-image-20570 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/49578588767_13bb610523_kres.jpg\" alt=\"painting of Mary and Jesus\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/49578588767_13bb610523_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/49578588767_13bb610523_kres-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20570\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The painting of Mary and the infant Jesus is known by many as the\u201cSavior of the People of Rome.\u201d Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/paullew\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lawrence OP<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_home_to_Romes_other_Sistine_Chapel\"><\/span><strong>It\u2019s home to Rome\u2019s <i>other <\/i>Sistine Chapel<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another side chapel worth stopping by is the Sistine Chapel. The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">other <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sistine Chapel in Rome. The chapel is the home of the tomb of Pope Sixtus V and, while not as stunning as the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, it is adorned with lovely frescos in the theme of the Virgin Mary (surprise, surprise).<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20572\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20572\" class=\"wp-image-20572 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/27169547486_31c949f94d_kres.jpg\" alt=\"church with large religious statues\" width=\"1200\" height=\"795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/27169547486_31c949f94d_kres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/27169547486_31c949f94d_kres-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20572\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">There&#8217;s another lesser-known Sistine Chapel, the &#8220;Cappella Sistina di Santa Maria Maggiore,&#8221; located in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/joeshlabotnik\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe Shlabotnik<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"There_are_iconic_tombs_inside\"><\/span><strong>There are iconic tombs inside\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several tombs inside the church, including a few popes, but the most famous one belongs to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, perhaps the great Baroque-era sculptor of the era. The inscription on the artist\u2019s tomb reads, \u201cGian Lorenzo Bernini, the glory of the arts and the city, here rests humbly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20566 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/francesco-alberti-V_JuY9VlVio-unsplashres.jpg\" alt=\"mural inside a church\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/francesco-alberti-V_JuY9VlVio-unsplashres.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/francesco-alberti-V_JuY9VlVio-unsplashres-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/francesco-alberti-V_JuY9VlVio-unsplashres-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Santa Maria Maggiore is beautiful by day or by night. Photo credit: <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 14px;\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@frensisalberti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Francesco Alberti<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"168\" data-end=\"240\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_Santa_Maria_Maggiore\"><\/span>FAQ\u00b4s &#8211;\u00a0Santa Maria Maggiore<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 data-start=\"168\" data-end=\"240\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_an_entrance_fee_to_visit\"><\/span><strong data-start=\"172\" data-end=\"238\">Is there an entrance fee to visit?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"241\" data-end=\"538\">Entry to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is <strong data-start=\"290\" data-end=\"298\">free<\/strong>, as it is an active place of worship. However, there may be a small fee if you wish to access certain areas, such as the museum or guided visits to specific chapels. Donations are welcome and help with the upkeep of this historic basilica.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"241\" data-end=\"538\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_I_wear_when_visiting\"><\/span><strong data-start=\"549\" data-end=\"614\">What should I wear when visiting?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"617\" data-end=\"946\">As with all churches in Rome, <strong data-start=\"647\" data-end=\"675\">modest dress is required<\/strong>. Visitors should ensure shoulders and knees are covered. Light layers, such as a scarf or shawl, are especially useful during warmer months. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as the basilica is large and often visited as part of a longer walking route through the city.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"1026\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_should_I_plan_to_spend_there\"><\/span><strong data-start=\"957\" data-end=\"1024\">How long should I plan to spend there?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1370\">Most visitors spend <strong data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1067\">30 to 60 minutes<\/strong> exploring the basilica at a comfortable pace. Art lovers or those interested in religious history may wish to stay longer to admire the mosaics, chapels, and tombs in detail. Santa Maria Maggiore is also well located, making it easy to combine with other nearby sights or a guided walking tour of Rome.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1370\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1080\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24099\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Walks_Rome_Rome-In-A-Day_WEB-RES-0014.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Walks_Rome_Rome-In-A-Day_WEB-RES-0014.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Walks_Rome_Rome-In-A-Day_WEB-RES-0014-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Walks_Rome_Rome-In-A-Day_WEB-RES-0014-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1370\"><strong>Want to explore Rome\u2019s churches and hidden stories with expert insight? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1370\">Discover the city through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/\"><strong data-start=\"98\" data-end=\"131\">Walks of Italy\u2019s guided tours<\/strong>,<\/a> where knowledgeable local guides bring history, art, and culture to life. From iconic basilicas to lesser-known gems, these immersive experiences help you see Italy beyond the surface. <strong data-start=\"318\" data-end=\"410\" data-is-last-node=\"\">Visit Walks of Italy Tours and choose a tour that turns sightseeing into true discovery.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It would not be an understatement to say that Rome is a city of churches. The Italian capital boasts more than 900 Catholic places of worship. And of the must-see churches in Italy, Santa Maria Maggiore is near the top of the list.\u00a0 Read along as we discover the ins and outs of this iconic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":20555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[80,18],"ppma_author":[181],"class_list":["post-20552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-churches","tag-rome"],"authors":[{"term_id":181,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"david-farley","display_name":"David Farley","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Farley_AuthorPhoto.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Farley_AuthorPhoto.jpg"},"user_url":"","last_name":"Farley","first_name":"David","job_title":"","description":"David Farley is a West Village-based food and travel writer whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Food &amp; Wine, among other publications. He\u2019s the author of three books, including \u201cAn Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church\u2019s Strangest Relic in Italy\u2019s Oddest Town,\u201d which was made into a documentary by the National Geographic Channel. You can find Farley\u2019s online homes at https:\/\/dfarley.com\/index.html and https:\/\/www.tripout.online\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20552"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20552"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24561,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20552\/revisions\/24561"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20552"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=20552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}