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Rome: St Mary Major Basilica Catholic Pilgrim Tour

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$61.71 /person
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About the activity

Visit St Mary Major with an expert Catholic guide. Venerate the Holy Crib, see the Salus Populi Romani attributed to St Luke, and discover ancient mosaics and papal history.

  • Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Skip the line
    Get priority entry.
  • Live guiding
    Chinese, English, French, Spanish
  • Duration
    1 hour
  • Includes
    • Expert Catholic guide
    • All taxes and fees
    • Radio headsets for groups of 7 or more
    • Homily on request
    • Transport to meeting point
    • Transport from end point
    • Guide tip
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • Venerate the Holy Crib relics associated with the manger of Christ
  • See Salus Populi Romani, the icon attributed to St Luke
  • Visit the tomb of Pope St Pius V
  • Discover fifth-century biblical mosaics and the Holy Door
  • Explore a Major Papal Basilica with an expert Catholic guide

Description

Visit St Mary Major, one of Rome’s four Major Papal Basilicas and the city’s great Marian shrine, on a focused one-hour Catholic pilgrimage tour.

Discover a basilica whose history reaches back to early Christian Rome and whose sacred art continues to proclaim the mystery of Christ and the dignity of His Mother. With an expert Catholic guide, learn the traditions behind the basilica’s several names and its enduring importance to pilgrims.

Venerate the relics of the Holy Crib, fragments traditionally associated with the manger of the Child Jesus and preserved beneath the papal altar. See the Salus Populi Romani, the revered image of Our Lady attributed by Catholic tradition to St Luke the Evangelist, and learn about its place in the devotional life of Rome.

Visit the tomb of Pope St Pius V and discover the saints, popes and Catholic traditions connected with the basilica. Marvel at the fifth-century biblical mosaics of the nave and triumphal arch, among the oldest surviving Christian mosaics in Rome, together with the later apse mosaic.

See the Holy Door and learn its meaning within Catholic Jubilee pilgrimages. Your guide brings together the basilica’s relics, sacred art and history from a distinctly Catholic perspective.

The tour lasts one hour and ends at St Mary Major, close to Termini and Metro Lines A and B. Shoulders and knees must be covered. As this is an active place of worship, access to particular chapels or areas may occasionally change without notice.

Good to know before you go
  • Free for clerics - contact us
Meeting point

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2. When will I receive the confirmation of my booking?
You will receive an email notification right after your successful payment. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder. When the payment is completed you have the option to download your ticket directly.
3. What does the 'skip the line' ticket mean?
'Skip the line' tickets provide the fastest possible entry with no or very little queuing.
4. Are mobile tickets enough or do I have to print them?
Tickets don't need to be printed. You can show your ticket from your smartphone as a PDF.
  • Adults
    16-99 years
  • Students (with ID)
    16-30 years
  • Children
    0-15 years
October 2026
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