The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on the Esquiline Hill is the largest of Rome's more than 40 churches dedicated to Mary and one of the city's four papal basilicas. Since April 2025 it is also the final resting place of Pope Francis. He chose the basilica as his burial site by his own wish. Most of his predecessors were buried in St. Peter's Basilica instead.
History of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Roman couple and to Pope Liberius in a dream in the summer of 358. She announced that a church should be built on the spot where snow would be found the next morning. The Esquiline Hill is said to have been covered in snow in the middle of summer on 5 August. This so-called Miracle of the Snow gave the church its other name, Santa Maria della Neve.
The construction of today's basilica is historically documented between 432 and 440 AD under Pope Sixtus III, shortly after the Council of Ephesus officially declared Mary the Mother of God in 431. The basilica is the only one of Rome's four papal churches that has kept its original late-antique floor plan to this day. The mosaics on the triumphal arch and in the nave are still original, dating back to the 5th century.
In the 13th century, Pope Nicholas IV had the apse decorated with a new mosaic by Jacopo Torriti. Between 1585 and 1612, the Sistine Chapel (not to be confused with the chapel of the same name in the Vatican) and the Pauline Chapel were built. Both still house the Sacra Culla relic and the Marian icon Salus Populi Romani today. For the Jubilee year 1750, architect Ferdinando Fuga gave the basilica its current facade along with the Loggia delle Benedizioni. The bell tower, at around 75 metres, is considered the tallest in Rome.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday 2025 at the age of 88. On 26 April 2025 he was buried in a niche in the left aisle of the basilica. It was the first papal burial outside the Vatican since 1903 and the first in this basilica in over 350 years.
Opening hours
The basilica is open daily from 7:00 to 19:00. The museum area keeps different hours. From Monday to Saturday it is open from 8:00 to 18:30, with last entry at 18:00. On Sundays, shorter hours of 12:30 to 17:00 apply.
| Monday | 07:00 - 19:00 |
| Tuesday | 07:00 - 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 07:00 - 19:00 |
| Thursday | 07:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 07:00 - 19:00 |
| Saturday | 07:00 - 19:00 |
| Sunday | 07:00 - 19:00 |
Access to some areas of the basilica is restricted during Mass. On weekdays, Mass is held in the Pauline Chapel at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 18:00. On Sundays and public holidays, Mass is also held at the papal altar at 10:00, 12:00 and 18:00.
Tickets & Prices
The basilica itself is free to enter. Three areas require a separate, paid ticket: the museum area, the panoramic terraces and the Area Archeologica with its underground excavations. All three run on a timed-entry system. Purchased tickets cannot be refunded.
| Basilica | free |
| Museum area | from €7.50 |
| 360° Panoramic Terraces | from €11.50 |
| Area Archeologica | from €4.50 |
| Audio guide | €7.00 |
The museum area offers hourly time slots between 8:00 and 18:00 on weekdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, only two afternoon time slots are available. The panoramic terraces only have three fixed time slots per day, all year round.
Access to the terraces is by stairs only. Because of this, children under 7, wheelchair users and people with limited mobility cannot visit the terraces.
The Area Archeologica can only be visited on a guided tour, an independent visit is not possible. A guide fee is added on top of the entrance ticket.
Where can you buy tickets for the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore?
Tickets for the museum area, the terraces and the Area Archeologica are available online with a choice of time slot, or directly at the ticket office. On site, however, only the time slots that are not yet sold out for that day are available.
On the first Sunday of each month, the museum area is free to visit as part of the nationwide "Domenica al Museo" initiative. A time slot reservation is still required.
Buy tickets online
Direct booking, flexible cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit.
Guided Tours
The Area Archeologica with its underground excavations can only be visited on a guided tour. Individual visitors book it online or on site just like the other tickets, choosing a time slot and a language for the tour.
Individual visitors can also join themed tours such as "Arte e Fede" as well as exclusive tours led by an art historian. Both are likewise bookable through the regular ticketing system.
Directions & Location
The basilica sits in the Esquilino district, just a 10-minute walk from Roma Termini station. From Termini, you can also reach it by metro lines A and B. Several bus lines stop right next to Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore.
| Metro | A, B | Termini |
| Bus | 16, 70, 71, 714 | Santa Maria Maggiore |
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 00100 Rome RM, Italy
Don't miss
Tomb of Pope Francis
Since his burial on 26 April 2025, Pope Francis has rested in a simple niche in the left aisle, between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel. The tombstone, made of Ligurian marble, bears only the inscription “FRANCISCVS”.
Salus Populi Romani icon
The Byzantine icon in the Pauline Chapel dates back to the early Middle Ages. Francis prayed in front of it an estimated 120 times during his pontificate, including before and after every trip abroad.
Early Christian mosaics
The mosaics on the triumphal arch and in the nave still date from the 5th century, when the basilica was built under Pope Sixtus III.
Sacra Culla relic in the crypt
The crypt holds a relic made of five pieces of wood, traditionally said to come from the manger of Christ.
What should you know before visiting the basilica?
The basilica is an active place of worship. A dress code applies: shoulders and knees must be covered, and shorts or sleeveless tops are not allowed.
The basilica itself is wheelchair accessible with level pathways. The panoramic terraces, however, are not wheelchair accessible. Access there is by stairs only.
Since the burial of Pope Francis, queues regularly form around his grave in the left aisle, especially in the morning. If you want to visit the area without the crowds, go shortly after opening at 7:00 or in the late afternoon.
For the museum area, and especially for the panoramic terraces, it is worth booking your time slot a few days in advance, as the terrace slots sell out quickly.
Photo Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Yes, entry to the basilica itself is free for everyone. A separate ticket with a time slot is required for the museum area, the panoramic terraces and the Area Archeologica.
In the left aisle of the basilica, in a niche between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel, near the altar of St. Francis.
Yes. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and shorts or sleeveless tops are not allowed.
The basilica itself has wide entrances and level pathways. The panoramic terraces, however, are not wheelchair accessible, as access is by stairs only.
Several bus lines stop right at Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore. It's about a 10-minute walk from Roma Termini station, from where you can also reach it by metro lines A and B.
