One of Rome’s four major basilicas, Santa Maria Maggiore was among the first churches in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Enjoy an in-depth look at this premier cultural and religious site on this guided tour that takes in its fifth-century mosaics, relic of Christ’s crib, and ancient icon of the Virgin Mary. Learn about its art and architecture while admiring the tombs of greats like St. Jerome and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Discover the history and art of Santa Maria Maggiore with a guide
Admire magnificent Byzantine interiors dating from the fifth century
See Rome’s other “Sistine Chapel”, dedicated to Pope Sixtus V
Hear how this basilica was used as a Papal residence in the 1300s
What's Included
Small group limited to a maximum of 14 people
Pick-up
Live guide
Departure & Return
Departure Point
Traveler pickup is offered We offer pickup in Rome from all the accommodation within the Aurelian Walls.
Departure Time
2:00 PM
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirement
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews for Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Tour
Two hour tour took 40 minutes. The basilica deserved a little more.
David
The description was a 2 hour small group tour with hotel pickup. The guide left after 40 minutes. Hotel pickup was great and fortunately the car stayed till the guide showed up. It was extremely hot curtailing what could be discussed outdoors.
Taha Boutorabi
tahaboutorabi
Very nice building; I wish we had this sort of building in Australia. Recommend visiting this place
Beautiful church
Angela_S
Luisa was very sweet and patient explaining every step of our tour. A true gem this church and nice location to get a bite afterwards.
The master of all Churches
Carlos A
Splendorous monument and mother Church of Rome.
A mandatory place to visit and enjoy all the art inside.
Beautiful church in Rome
martabF6117VV
Wonderful experience. The ceiling is stunning. Everyone who comes to visit la Citta Eterna has to visit the church.
The mosaics are exceptional. Also the rosette
I've been creating content and applications online since 1996. I've created several successful online businesses and enjoy creating content and tools that people enjoy using. I love to travel with my family and have visited more than 50 countries across all continents. We're building the Visit.Network to bring interesting travel guides to travellers around the world.
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