Panorama taken inside Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The picture was taken balancing the camera on the back of a prayer rail near the front of the church. As a result, the rail has a break in it. The image shows the papal altar, highly decorated ceiling and a view down the central aisle.

Santa Maria Maggiore Church - Rome visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Santa Maria Maggiore Church' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Roma.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major) is the largest church in Rome dedicated to Mary. The church dates from the 5th century and contains many very old mosaics, columns and other artefacts. It is widely considered to be the most beautiful church in Rome after St Peters and is a very popular tourist attraction.

Prior to Santa Maria Maggiore, the site was occupied by a temple to Cybele, a Greek female fertility goddess. The church was built in the 5th century under Pope Sixtus III, at a time when veneration of Mary was spreading fast after being declared 'Theotokos' (Mother of God) at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Most of the interior and façade date from extensive renovations carried out in the 18th century.

Inside the church are numerous important works of art and other notable features. Visitors should look out for:

• 5th Century Mosaics - on either side of the nave depicting scenes from the Old Testament.
• 5th Century Triumphal Arch Mosaics - rich and complex mosaics depicting various scenes from the life of Christ, including the Annuciation, Epiphany, Massacre of Innocents, visit of the Magi, flight to Egypt, presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem, and scenes from the Book of Revelations.
• Coronation of the Virgin - apse mosaic dating from the 13th century.
• Athenian Marble Columns - supporting the nave and the oldest component of the church dating from the 5th century.
• Bell Tower - at 75 this is the tallest bell tower in Rome.
• Papal Altar - situated at the far end, used only by the Pope or a priest with specific permission during the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.
• Confessio and Bethlehem Crypt - built beneath the papal altar, containing a kneeling statue of Pope Pius IX. Within the crypt is buried St. Jerome (d.420), a Doctor of the Church and author of the Latin translation of the Bible.
• Sistine Chape - containing the tomb of Pope Sixtus V (1521-90) decorated with frescoes and, supposedly, part of the original crib of Jesus.
• Pauline chapel - containing the tomb of Popes Clement VIII and Paul V and the Salus Populi Romani (Health of the Roman People) icon of Mary.
• True Cross Relic - this relic, supposedly wood from the cross Jesus was crucified on, is housed within a 14th-century cross-shaped reliquary.
• Other Papal Tombs - Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore contains the tombs of several other popes. Most popes are buried in the Tombs of the Popes in Vatican Grotto underneath St Peter's Basilica.

Below the church is a museum containing various Roman remains uncovered during the 18th century, part of a Roman road and a mosaic pavement.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore,
Rome

Metro: Cavour (B), Termini (A,B), Piazza Vittorio E (A).