Sixteen Centuries Under One Roof

Santa Maria Maggiore gathers early Christian, medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art into a single building. Here are the treasures you can't miss — beyond the famous mosaics.

The Masterpieces You Can't Miss

1. The Salus Populi Romani — The ancient, deeply venerated icon of the Madonna, the "salvation of the Roman people," kept in the Cappella Paolina. One of Rome's most important and beloved Marian images.

2. The gilded coffered ceiling — Gilded, by tradition, with the first gold to arrive from the Americas, a gift from the Spanish royals in the late 1400s. It gleams above the nave.

3. The Cappella Sistina (of Sixtus V) — Not the Vatican one: a lavish 16th-century chapel with a ciborium held aloft by gilded angels.

4. The Cappella Paolina (Borghese) — Facing the Sistina, it guards the Salus Populi Romani within a frame of opulent marbles and frescoes.

5. The relic of the Sacra Culla — Wooden fragments venerated as part of the manger of Bethlehem, preserved beneath the high altar.

6. The Cosmatesque floor and the tombs — among them Bernini's, buried here with his family.

7. The Romanesque bell tower — the tallest in Rome (75 metri), rising over the square.

With a Ticket: Loggia, Museum, Archaeological Site

Beyond the free basilica, a ticket gets you into the Loggia delle Benedizioni (a close-up of the façade mosaics), the basilica Museum, and the archaeological site below, with the remains of ancient Roman buildings. → Santa Maria Maggiore: hours and tickets

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Suggested Itinerary (1 Hour)

  1. Nave and mosaics from the V secolo (bring binoculars).
  2. Gilded ceiling and apse with the mosaic by Torriti.
  3. Cappella Paolina with the Salus Populi Romani.
  4. Cappella Sistina of Sixtus V.
  5. Sacra Culla beneath the altar and Bernini's tomb.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to see at Santa Maria Maggiore? The V secolo mosaics, the gilded coffered ceiling, the Salus Populi Romani icon in the Cappella Paolina, the Cappella Sistina of Sixtus V, the relic of the Sacra Culla, the Cosmatesque floor, Bernini's tomb, and the tallest bell tower in Rome.

What is the Salus Populi Romani? It's the ancient, deeply venerated icon of the Madonna kept at Santa Maria Maggiore, regarded as the protector of the Roman people: one of the most important Marian images in Rome.

Why is the ceiling of Santa Maria Maggiore gilded? By tradition, it was gilded with the first gold to arrive from the Americas, a gift from the Spanish royals in the late 1400s: a precious tribute to the great Marian basilica.

What is the Sacra Culla of Santa Maria Maggiore? They are wooden fragments venerated as part of the manger (crib) of Bethlehem, preserved beneath the high altar: one of the most important relics tied to Christmas.

Who is buried at Santa Maria Maggiore? Among others, the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini is buried here with his family, marked by a simple slab in the basilica.

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Article #260 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026