Among the oldest and most precious mosaics in the Christian world

Santa Maria Maggiore holds a treasure that many visitors never realize is right above their heads: the 5th-century mosaics running along the nave and across the triumphal arch, among the oldest Christian mosaic cycles in the world, and the great medieval apse mosaic by Jacopo Torriti. Together they tell the story of salvation and the glorification of Mary, in a journey spanning a thousand years of art.

The 5th-century mosaics (nave and triumphal arch)

Created when the basilica was built (just after the Concilio di Efeso of 431, which proclaimed Mary "Mother of God"):

  • The nave panels: high up, above the columns, a series of frames with Old Testament scenes (stories of Abraham, Moses, Joshua). They're hard to make out with the naked eye because of the height — binoculars help.
  • The triumphal arch: scenes from the infancy of Christ and the glorification of Mary, in a style still close to late-antique Roman art.

These mosaics are an exceedingly rare witness to early Christian art, surviving intact for more than 1,500 years.

The apse mosaic (13th century)

In the apse, the great mosaic by Jacopo Torriti (1295) depicts the Coronation of the Virgin: Mary and Christ enthroned together, surrounded by angels and saints against a golden background of extraordinary brilliance. It's one of the masterpieces of medieval Roman mosaic.

Want to take in the mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore at your own pace?

My Rome Driver brings you to the Esquilino district with a private driver, easily paired with the other basilicas. Fixed price, door to door.

Check availability and get a quote

Reply within 30 minutes · Fixed price · Free cancellation up to 24h before

How to take them in at their best

  • Bring binoculars: the nave mosaics are very high up.
  • Loggia delle Benedizioni: with the loggia ticket you can also see up close the façade mosaics (13th century, by Filippo Rusuti), normally hidden behind the portico.
  • Morning light: it illuminates the triumphal arch and the apse best.
  • Audio guide or guided tour: invaluable for "reading" the scenes and their meanings.

Frequently asked questions

How old are the mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore? The mosaics in the nave and on the triumphal arch date to the 5th century (around 432-440), among the oldest Christian cycles in the world. The great apse mosaic is from 1295, the work of Jacopo Torriti.

What do the nave mosaics depict? Old Testament scenes (stories of Abraham, Moses, Joshua) in a series of frames above the columns. The triumphal arch shows scenes from the infancy of Christ and the glorification of Mary.

What is the apse mosaic of Santa Maria Maggiore? The Coronation of the Virgin by Jacopo Torriti (1295): Mary and Christ enthroned against a golden background, a masterpiece of medieval Roman mosaic.

Can you see the façade mosaics? Yes — with the Loggia delle Benedizioni ticket you can get a close-up view of the 13th-century façade mosaics, otherwise hidden behind the 18th-century portico.

Do you need binoculars for the mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore? They're very useful: the 5th-century mosaics in the nave are set high up, and binoculars let you appreciate the details that escape the naked eye.

See also

Book a driver for Santa Maria Maggiore

Fixed price · ZTL access · Door to door

Article #258 · Category: Museums · Updated: May 2026