Can you imagine visiting one of Rome's most iconic churches? On this tour, you'll discover the hidden corners of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, whose architecture blends early Christian style, a Romanesque bell tower, and a Baroque facade.
Tour Details
We'll meet at the designated time at Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, where we'll be waiting for you to discover what's hidden behind the walls of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Over the course of between 1 hour and 1 hour and 20 minutes, we'll walk through the interior of the temple as the first rays of sunlight illuminate it, revealing the beauty of its most iconic corners, as well as its most hidden ones. You'll fall in love with this magnificent basilica!
Once inside the basilica, we'll discover the legend of the Miracle of the Snow, an event that inspired its foundation, and we'll admire the 5th-century mosaics that adorn the chapels.
As well as that, we'll admire the fascinating symbolic details hidden in the ceilings and explore normally lesser-known areas, such as the Loggia of Blessings and the Hall of the Popes.
Our tour will continue as we descend into the underground archaeological area, where the remains of Christian antiquity and medieval chapels reveal the oldest layers of its history—an experience that few are lucky enough to witness!
Pope Francis' Tomb
During the tour, we'll have the opportunity to see the final resting place of Pope Francis. The pontiff expressed his wish to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore because of his deep devotion to the Virgin Salus Populi Romani. Did you know that he is the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican? For this reason, his tomb in this basilica has become a new pilgrimage point in Rome.
