Santa Maria Maggiore Tour: Mosaics & Relics Experience

The basilica kept its original fifth-century structure when every other major church in Rome was rebuilt.

A two-hour guided tour of Rome's Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore with a live guide, small group limited to 14 people, and hotel pickup. You walk through the only Patriarchal Basilica in Rome to retain its original fifth-century layout, admiring its mosaics, the venerated image of Salus Populi Romani, a reliquary believed to hold a piece of Jesus's crib, and the tombs of St. Jerome and the sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

• Explore the basilica's original structure
• Admire fifth-century mosaics
• See the Salus Populi Romani icon
• View the reliquary with crib relic
• Visit tombs of St. Jerome and Bernini
• Discover the Sistine Chapel inside basilica

What’s included

• Small group of up to 14 people.
• hotel pickup.
• live guide in English or Italian.

Times

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• Every day 14:00

Information

Two-hour guided tour of Rome's Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore with live guide, small group of up to 14, and hotel pickup included.

Group Up to 14 1 similar private tour ›

Live guide English and Italian

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 6 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Book up to 1d before

Ages Adult (10 and older) · Child (under 10)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Stroller-friendly

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, and it is the only one among the Patriarchal Basilicas to have kept its original structure intact, though it has been enlarged and redecorated over centuries. Your guide leads a group of no more than 14 people through the basilica, pointing out the fifth-century mosaics that survive from the original construction, the ancient icon of the Virgin Mary known as Salus Populi Romani (the help and protectress of the Roman people), and the reliquary said to contain a piece of the crib that held baby Jesus. The tour also covers the Sistine Chapel within the basilica, dedicated to Pope Sixtus V, and shows you the tombs of St. Jerome and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the sculptor whose work shaped Rome's Baroque churches.

Hotel pickup is included, so you do not arrange your own transport to the basilica. The guide speaks English or Italian. The tour runs two hours, which fits comfortably into a morning or afternoon without eating into other plans. Wear comfortable shoes and bring clothes that cover your knees and shoulders: a dress code enforced at the door for all visitors to places of worship.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 6 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address.

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 10).

What fifth-century mosaics will I see inside the basilica?

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore preserves mosaics from the fifth century, when the building was first constructed. These mosaics are part of the original structure that has survived while the rest of the church was enlarged and redecorated over the following centuries.

Is the reliquary with a piece of Jesus's crib really inside the basilica?

Yes. The basilica houses a reliquary said to contain a piece of the crib that once held baby Jesus. It is one of the most venerated objects in the church and a focal point of the tour.

What is the Salus Populi Romani icon?

Salus Populi Romani is an ancient icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary depicting her as the help and protectress of the Roman people. It received a Canonical coronation by Pope Gregory XVI in 1838 and is one of the most important sacred images in the basilica.

Can I visit if I have mobility issues or need a wheelchair?

The basilica is wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and the tour suits all physical fitness levels.

Operated by ROMAETRAVEL. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago