Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major is one of the four most important Basilicas of the Catholic Church, all of them located in Rome. These are called major basilicas and the believers must worship them for the first time. They are all property of the Vatican State and enjoy the status of extraterritoriality.
Of all basilicas, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major is the oldest and largest sanctuary dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary. The recent excavations carried out under the current basilica have revealed important archaeological testimonies, such as a superb calendar from the 2-3 e.N centuries and some remains of Roman walls partially visible during the visit of the local museum. Still nothing of the archaic basilica.
The facade preserves the impressive mosaics of Filippo Rusiti from the 14th century, slightly hidden from the facade added in the 18th century, along with the three-arched loggia preceded by a portico. The seductive loggia serves as a place for the blessing of the popes on the believers gathered in front of the basilica at certain holidays. It is the work of Ferdinando Fuga, just like the great canopy supported by four columns of red porphyry and placed above the altar. The porphyry columns were decorated around 1800 with golden leaves by Giuseppe Valadier.
The surroundings were decorated at the end of the 16th century and beginning of the 17th century. An obelisk from Augustus' mausoleum was raised in the marketplace on Esquilin, behind the basilica, in the outer part of the apse in 1587. In front of the building, in Santa Maria Maggiore Square was raised a column taken from the ancient basilica of Maxentius. On this column was placed the sculptural work Virgin Mary and the Child, done by Berthelot in 1611.
The basilica also hosts the tomb of Bernini under a surprisingly simple plate. A more recent work added to the thesaurus from the basilica is the Regina Pacis statue made by Guido Galli at the request of Pope Benedict XV as a sign of gratitude for the end of the First World War.
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