St Mary Major Basilica Tour – One of the Four Major Basilicas and Holy Doors of Rome
IMPORTANT: Pilgrims wishing to pass through the Holy Doors during the Jubilee Year must register and book time slots here.
Our St Mary Major Basilica Tour Rome is the shorter, first part of the Via Crucis Catholic Pilgrim Tour for those who just want to visit the Basilica of St Mary Major – one of the four Major basilicas of Rome and one of mind-blowing historical and religious significance.
Santa Maria Maggiore (or St Mary Major in English) is a fundamental pilgrim experience not least due to it being a Major Basilica and thus home to one of the four Holy Doors that will open during the Jubilee year of 2025. However there is much more to St Mary Major than just that.
The Major Basilica boasts a host of important relics of saints, evangelists and even Christ Himself. Your expert guide will explain the origins of the Basilica in the era of the persecuted Church, through into the legalised Church after Constantine. You will learn of what that meant for the architecture, art, the scriptural symbolism of the artwork of the mosaics, the frescoes and icons.
This tour is a wonderful expose of many facets of Christianity to learn the hidden language all around the visitor that without an expert guide, you would miss.
This fascinating St Mary Major Basilica tour explains:
- The different names of the Basilica of St Mary Major
- Its ancient and mysterious origins
- The Holy Door
- The relics of Pope St Pius V
- The relics of the crib in which Jesus lay as a baby
- The symbolism of the spectacular mosaics
- An icon traditionally to have been painted by St Luke the Evangelist
This is one of the must-see tours for pilgrims visiting Rome, or for anyone who wants to learn more about the ancient Christian Catholic faith.
Remember, our Saint Mary Major Rome Catholic Tour is just one part of our longer, flagship Via Crucis Pilgrim Tour, which goes beyond this majestic basilica into St Praxedes and St John Lateran, Cathedral of Rome.
Please note, we endeavour that all pilgrims on our guided visits to Major Basilicas will pass through the Holy Doors unless prevented by unforeseen circumstances beyond our reasonable control. Nobody gets skip-the-line access. Read the Itinerary tab to learn how important this tour is for religious pilgrims to Rome.
To learn more visit Crucis.cc.
| MEETING POINT | The fountain in front of the entrance of St Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore). See the precise location on Google Maps or What3Words. | ||||
| FINISHING LOCATION | As above. | ||||
| DEPARTURE TIME | 9.00am Mondays & 3:00pm Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. | ||||
| DURATION | Approx. 1 hour. | ||||
| DRESS CODE | Comfortable clothing, covering shoulders and knees. | ||||
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Additional information
| Ticket Type | Adult (16+), Student ID, Child (under 16) |
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The Holy Door
We begin our Crucis St Mary Major Basilica Tour Rome by briefly explaining the facade of this magnificent building, before making our way to the Holy Door where your expert guide will explain the tradition and history of the Door and the basilica.
Architecture
Next we’ll enter the Basilica where you will be mesmerised by the majestic architecture and marvel at the awe-inspiring golden ceiling and walls.
The Mosaics
Journeying through the nave, your guide will explain the fascinating symbolism of the elaborate mosaics of the arch and the apse, taking care to point out the different hidden scriptural and theological messages.
Relics of Pope St Pius V and the grave of Bernini
So called the ‘Second Sistine Chapel”, including the tabernacle, the associations with Christmas and the relics of Pope St Pius V. We’ll also visit the grave of the baroque master sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose influence on architecture in the high renaissance is unrivalled.
Relic of the Crib
Venturing below the main altar, we’ll visit the relics of St Jerome together with the relic chapel of the pieces of wood of the Holy Crib that Jesus was lain in together with the works of art that adorn this special place of devotion.
Icon by St Luke
We’ll learn the fascinating history and artistic language of one of the most miraculous and famous icons in Christendom, reputed to have been painted by St Luke himself – the icon of Salus Populi Romani.
At the fountain in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Tour Reviews
When we first walked into this Basilica we were speechless by the gold and beauty of this amazing Basilica. Our guide explained the different names and role of the Basilica but linked it to our faith too. We had our teenage daughters with us and they were fascinated with the guides explanations of salvation history and scripture via the artwork and architecture. I wasnt expecting the tour to be so spiritual but I am so glad it was. Our guide was amazing and this tour was just the right amount of time even though it left us wanting to take other tours extra.
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