Rome: Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Tour – Rome, Italy

EXPERIENCE:

Although enlarged and redecorated, the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore retains much of its original structure of the fifth century. In the years following the return of the papacy to Rome from Avignon, part of the church was used as a papal residence until the complete renovation of the Vatican palace.

Admire its mosaics of the fifth century, a reliquary that is said to contain a piece of the crib that once held baby Jesus, an ancient icon of the Virgin Mary, and the tomb of St. Jerome and the tomb of the artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes all extraterritorial properties of the Holy See in Rome. See the Sistine Chapel in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, dedicated to Pope Sixtus V.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Discover the 5th century mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore
Visit a reliquary said to contain a piece of the crib that once held the baby Jesus
See the Sistine Chapel named for Pope Sixtus V (the one in Vatican City is named for Pope Sixtus IV)

Discover top places to stay, exciting tours, and unforgettable events in Italy, and popular cities like Amalfi, Florence, Milan, Naples, Pompei, and Rome.