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Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Guided Tour

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$21.25 /person
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About the activity

Join an official guided tour of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Admire the Loggia delle Benedizioni, Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Staircase, the Hall of the Popes, and the Liberian Historical Museum.

  • Free cancellation
    This activity is non-refundable.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Skip the line
    Get priority entry.
  • Live guiding
    English
  • Duration
    1 hour
  • Includes
    • Official guided tour of the Basilica
    • Entrance to the Loggia delle Benedizioni, La Scala di Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the Pope's staircase, and the Storico Liberiano Museum
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • Marvel at the 5th-century mosaics of Santa Maria Maggiore
  • Learn which famous Catholics are buried here
  • Admire the 14th-century bell tower, the highest bell tower in Rome

Description

Join a walking tour of the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, located on Esquiline Hill. Discover the secrets of this impressive monument, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was built on the site where the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream of pope Liberius. This is also where a blanket of snow appeared on the hill in the middle of summer. Find out how the locals commemorate this miracle every year with white flower petals.
See the 14th-century bell tower, the highest bell tower in Rome standing tall at 75 meters. It is said that there are pieces of wood from Jesus' crib underneath the altar (Sacra Culla).
Visit the patriarchal basilica, which contains the funerary monuments of Pope Clement IX, Paul V, and Nicolas IV. Discover a number of other famous Catholics who are buried here as well, including saint Jerome and the artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
This activity is non-refundable.
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
    19-0 years
  • Youth
    6-18 years
May 2025
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