How to visit and what to see in Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (Rome): schedules

Of course the great religious temple that will center your visit of Rome is undoubtedly the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

But you should know that in Roma you will find other large churches, specifically, those called major basilicas, four enormous churches whose distinctive feature is that only the Pope you can say mass in your high altar.

The major basilicas of rome, that is, the so-called papal basilicas, are, in addition to the aforementioned San Pedro, St. John Lateran, Santa María la Mayor y Saint Paul outside the walls.

Specifically, now I am going to refer to the Basilica of Santa Maria la Mayor, which you find very close to the termini station of railways, the main one in Rome.

Externally you will see a huge building that from some perspective may not seem like a church, but could be, for example, a ministerial headquarters or a university.

Curiosities history of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

But you have to know that you will find yourself before one of the oldest churches in the Christendom.

Indeed, the origin of Santa María la Mayor It dates back to a sanctuary ordered to be built by the Pope Liberius in the year 360, which is why it is also known as the Liberian Basilica.

And although today the building is completely different due to the numerous renovations and extensions it has had, it is the only one of the major basilicas which maintains its original plan, characteristic of Christian basilicas, as well as the primitive early Christian structure.

In the year 440, a first extension of the church was completed, of which you can still see some corners.

Specifically, from that time the mosaics of the central nave, which have been preserved since then, as well as the triumphal arch.

From the medieval period, during which various potato They commissioned new extensions, the marble paving on the floor stands out, which dates back to 1288 and is made in the so-called style cosmatesco.

The mosaics of the apse were completed in 1292, and the mosaics of the façade date from the same period.

It also highlights the medieval bell tower, which is 75 meters high and is the tallest in the city of Rome.

As for the wooden coffered ceiling on the ceiling, it is from a later period; in Renaissance style, it was completed in 1450.

The exterior design of the current building of the Basilica of Santa Maria la Mayor You will see that it is unmistakably baroque in style, both the facades and the domes.

What to see when visiting Santa María la Mayor

But it is inside where you find the great artistic wealth of this papal basilica.

The aforementioned mosaics, coffered ceiling and sumptuous chapels make up a complex that will not leave you insensitive.

Specifically, you should focus your attention on the impressive Borghese Chapel, ordered to be built by Pope Paul V in 1605 as Chapel of the Virgin, although it is also known as Pauline Chapel.

Located in front of the Sistine Chapel, has its own Greek cross plan and Corinthian compartments.

In it you can see decoration with marble, gold and precious stones, as well as its walls covered in frescoes.

In the chapel you find the tombs of the popes Paul V y Clement VIII.

For its part, the aforementioned Sistine Chapel was commissioned by Pope Sixtus V and it was completed in 1589.

In it is his own tomb and that of the Pope Pius V who consecrated him cardinal.

Finally, it is also worth highlighting the Bethlehem Crypt located under the canopy of the High altar, which was created in the primitive church, in the year 432.

There are kept some pieces of wood that are supposed to be relics of a cradle from the time of the Jesus birth.

And also highlights the Bethlehem of Arnolfo de Cambio, made in 1288 with various sculptural figures of The Virgin, San Jose, child Jesus, Wise Men, ox and donkey.

Santa Maria Maggiore schedules in Rome

The Visiting hours of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome They are very broad, as they go from 7 a.m. to 19 p.m., both on weekdays and holidays.

The Mass times in Santa María la Mayor are, on weekdays, at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 18 hours, and on holidays, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 18 hours.