Santa Maria Maggiore

The origins of the current Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore date back to the first half of the 5th century. Its construction under Pope Sixtus III between 432 and 440 followed the Council of Ephesus in 431, which recognized Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as the “Theotokos” (God-bearer), thereby boosting the Marian cult. An older structure, believed to have been built after 352 under Bishop Liberius, could not be confirmed by excavations but is thought to have been located nearby on the Esquiline Hill. Legends claim that the Madonna appeared to a Roman merchant and his wife, promising a church on the spot where snow would fall the next morning—a miracle said to have occurred on August 5th, giving the church its secondary name “Our Lady of the Snows.” Over the centuries, the basilica underwent numerous expansions, including a transept and the current apse in the 13th century. Later additions such as the Cappella Sistina (1584–1590) and the Cappella Paolina (1613) further shaped its appearance. The Romanesque campanile, completed in 1377, stands at 75 meters, making it the tallest of its kind in Rome.

Santa Maria Maggiore is located in the Italian capital, Rome, in the district of Roma, within the Lazio region. It stands at an elevation of approximately 65 meters above sea level.

Visitors today can explore the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and admire its impressive architecture and rich interior. The church is an active place of worship and an important destination for pilgrims and tourists alike.

• Porta Esquilina (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.3 km away
• Mura serviane (Servian Wall) (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.5 km away
• Porta Viminalis (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.6 km away
• Terme di Diocleziano (Ancient Buildings), approx. 0.6 km away