Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, also known as "Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica," is located in Rome, Italy, and is one of the four major papal basilicas in the Catholic Church. It is the first church in the world named after the Virgin Mary and is the largest among the churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome, making it highly popular.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was built around the 4th century AD and was rebuilt during the papacy of Pope Sixtus III. Since its construction, the church has undergone numerous renovations, incorporating various artistic styles. A statue of King Philip IV of Spain is mounted on the facade of the church, commemorating his donation to the basilica. The main structure of the church was established when it was built in the 5th century, including a nave decorated with mosaics and a circular apse. The main hall is 86 meters long, flanked by 36 marble columns and 4 granite columns, which were replaced during the 18th-century restoration. A 75-meter bell tower was added to the church in the 13th century, rebuilt in the 14th century after being destroyed by an earthquake. The five bells in the tower ring every evening at 9 PM to signal prayer time.

The mosaic frescoes in the apse of the Borghese (Pauline) Chapel, which houses the Baroque-style tomb of Pope Paul V, were completed in the 13th century and depict the Coronation of the Virgin. The church also features the Bethlehem Crypt, which contains a silver cradle of the Christ Child and a golden manger, as well as the tombs of Saint Jerome and Pope Pius V.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

Must-visit reason: The world’s earliest church named after the Virgin Mary

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Italy[Italy]

Province/State: Lazio Region [Lazio Region]

City: Rome [Rome]