{"id":2545,"date":"2025-05-13T10:40:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T08:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fhhotelgroup.it\/blog\/santa-maria-maggiore\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T13:42:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T11:42:35","slug":"santa-maria-maggiore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fhhotelgroup.it\/en\/blog\/santa-maria-maggiore\/","title":{"rendered":"Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome: the resting place of Pope Francis"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the heart of Rome stands one of the most important basilicas in Christendom: Santa Maria Maggiore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Located on the Esquiline Hill<\/strong>, this basilica is an extraordinary example of religious architecture, sacred art and millennial history.<\/p>\n

Of the four papal basilicas in Rome, it is the only one that preserves the original early Christian structure, although it has been enriched over the centuries by numerous artistic and architectural interventions.<\/p>\n

To visit it is to immerse oneself in a place where the sacred and the beautiful coexist harmoniously.<\/p>\n

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major is the burial place of Pope Francis<\/strong>, who chose it to replace the Vatican Caves.<\/p>\n

In this article we will discover the origins and transformations of the Basilica, its artistic and spiritual treasures, and all the practical directions to reach it easily, either on foot or by public transport.<\/p>\n

\"FH55<\/p>\n

<\/span>The history of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to tradition, Our Lady herself indicated the site of the future basilica in 352 A.D.<\/strong> with a miraculous snowfall on the Esquiline Hill on the night of August 5, an event commemorated every year with a shower of white petals inside the church.<\/p>\n

Pope Liberius drew the outline of the future building in the snow, giving it the popular name of “Madonna of the Snow<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

The current construction was begun under Pope Sixtus III<\/strong> (432-440) after the Council of Ephesus proclaimed Mary “Theotokos,” Mother of God. Since then, St. Mary Major has remained one of the most important centers of Marian devotion.<\/p>\n

Over the centuries, the Basilica has undergone numerous transformations<\/strong> and restorations, reflecting the various artistic styles and liturgical needs of different periods.<\/p>\n

In the Middle Ages<\/strong> it became an important center of pilgrimage and spiritual activity, and in the Renaissance and Baroque periods it was enriched with valuable works of art.<\/p>\n

\"FH55<\/p>\n

<\/span>The Architecture of Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome<\/span><\/h2>\n

The building has undergone many transformations, but it retains its original 5th century nave with magnificent Ionic columns and a three-nave structure. The basilica is a rare example of a fusion of early Christian, Baroque and Renaissance styles.<\/p>\n

Among the most remarkable elements:<\/p>\n