Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Tourism

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, located in Rome, Italy, is one of the city's four major basilicas and is a celebrated Marian church. Built in the 4th century, it boasts a stunning blend of ancient and Renaissance architecture, mirroring the many centuries of its existence. Renowned for its lavish mosaics dating from the 5th century, these works of art depict scenes from the Old Testament and the early life of Christ, offering a vivid narrative display. The basilica is also famed for housing the relic of the Holy Crib, a wooden structure believed to be part of the manger from Christ's nativity—an object of significant religious importance. The church's sumptuous interior further includes the Sistine Chapel (not to be confused with the Vatican's), commissioned by Pope Sixtus V, including the tomb of Pope Paul V and exquisite frescoes. As a functioning church and a historic site, it draws both the faithful for worship and history enthusiasts alike, effortlessly bridging the past with the present in the heart of Rome.