Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Religious Site

Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 42, 00185 Roma RM, Italy

Website: https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/santa_maria_maggiore/index.htm

Admission: Free (no general admission)

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is a major papal basilica on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, founded in the early 5th century. It is one of the city’s principal churches and a significant site of Marian devotion.

The interior preserves large mosaic cycles from the 5th century that decorate the nave and triumphal arch, and it contains the venerated icon Salus Populi Romani. The basilica also displays later Renaissance and Baroque additions and papal liturgical fittings that reflect centuries of modification.

Construction was commissioned in the papacy of Sixtus III in the 5th century; the church has been enlarged and renovated repeatedly across the medieval and modern periods, producing a layered architectural ensemble. It has served continuously as a major place of worship and a papal basilica since its founding.

Located on the Esquiline Hill in central Rome, the basilica sits east of the Roman Forum and a few kilometres from the Vatican. It is easily reached from central Rome and from Rome’s main rail and bus hubs.

• Founding era: The basilica dates to the early 5th century and was built under Pope Sixtus III; it is one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas.
• Key artworks: Houses an early medieval Marian icon known as the Salus Populi Romani and contains extensive 5th-century mosaics in the nave and triumphal arch.

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore sits in central Rome just off Piazza dell’Esquilino. It is about a 5-15 minute walk from Roma Termini station (served by Trenitalia and Metro lines A and B). The nearest Metro stop on Line B is Cavour (a few minutes’ walk) and Termini station (lines A and B) is an easy walk; numerous city buses also stop near the basilica.

• Arrive right at opening to see Santa Maria Maggiore's mosaics in clear light and avoid the longest security queues that build later in the day.
• Check the basilica's mass and service schedule before you go - major services or papal events can close areas to visitors or change opening hours.
• Don't rush past the nave: the 5th‑century mosaics and the Borghese Chapel (home to the venerated icon Salus Populi Romani) are frequently missed by quick visitors but are among the basilica's highlights.