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Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

The First Church for Virgin Mary

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, built in the 5th century, is a mixture of architectural and decorative styles from different eras. The Basilica is named after the Virgin Mary, preserving 5th-century mosaics and featuring the Sistine Chapel and the Borghese Chapel.

It is said that in the 5th century, the Virgin Mary ordered the Pope in his dream to build a church the next day in a snowy place in August. The Pope woke up the next day and found snow on Esquiline Hill (Piazza dei Esquilino) of Rome, where he built a church, known today as the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Mary Major).

Regardless of the legend, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore dates back to the 5th century. Over the millennia, the church has been expanded and renovated to A Blend of Architectural Elements from Different Eras with medieval frescoes, Renaissance interiors, Baroque portico, etc., making it a veritable museum of religious architecture and decorative arts.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore was the first church in the world built in the name of the Virgin Mary and the largest of its kind in Rome. The 36 marble columns in the nave date back to Roman times, and the coffered ceiling is gilded in solid gold, giving it a magnificent appearance. The walls above the columns are painted with 36 Mosaics from 5th Century, depicting Old Testament themes.

Follow the steps beneath the high altar to reach the Bethlehem Crypt (Crypt of the Nativity), which is located underground. The Wood from the Holy Crib of the Nativity of Jesus Christ is housed in an Reliquary here. The statue of Pope Pius IX kneels in front of the cradle, his serene expression was depicted vividly.

The Mosaics in the Main Altar was created in the 13th century and features the Coronation of the Virgin Mary. The apse arch (triumphal arch) at the head of the nave is also covered with several religious mosaics from the 5th century.

Manywhere Trivia:
Being an architectural marvel, the Sistine Chapel in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore was completely overshadowed by the Sistine Chapel of the same name in Vatican Museums which was much more famous.

The Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) and the Borghese Chapel (Cappella Borghese) are the two most important and ranked chapels on either side of the nave. The Sistine Chapel, built in the 16th century, is the burial place of Pope Sixtus V. In the middle of the chapel are four statues of angels holding up a model of the chapel. On the other side, the Borghese Chapel is also known as the Pauline Chapel. The iconic Virgin Mary painting is now enshrined in the chapel, known as Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the Roman People), which is said to be painted by St Luke the Evangelist.