Santa Maria Maggiore

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major
  • Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore  (Italian)
  • Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris  (Latin)
  • Basilica Sanctae Mariae ad Nives  (Latin)
Façade of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore facing the Piazza
41°53′51″N 12°29′55″E / 41.89750°N 12.49861°E / 41.89750; 12.49861
LocationRome
CountryItaly
DenominationCatholic Church
TraditionLatin Church
WebsiteSanta Maria Maggiore
History
StatusPapal major basilica
DedicationBlessed Virgin Mary
Cult(s) presentSalus Populi Romani
Relics held
Architecture
Architect(s)Ferdinando Fuga
Architectural typeBasilica
Style
Groundbreaking432 (432)
Completed1743 (1743)
Specifications
Length92 m (302 ft)
Width80 m (260 ft)
Nave width30 m (98 ft)
Height75 m (246 ft)
Administration
DioceseRome
Clergy
ArchpriestStanisław Ryłko
Official nameHistoric Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura
TypeCultural
Criteriai, ii, iii, iv, vi
Designated1980[1]
Reference no.91
RegionEurope and North America

Santa Maria Maggiore is a church in Rome, Italy. It is also called Santa Maria della Neve, Santa Maria ad praesepe, or Basilica Liberii. It is located near the main railway station, Roma Termini. There are over 40 churches dedicated to Mary in Rome. Santa Maria Maggiore is the most important of these. The church was built in the 5th century. It is a basilica major.

It is one of the four major basilicas and one of the five patriarchal basilicas associated with the Pentarchy, along with St. John Lateran, St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, and St. Peter and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Eight popes are buried in the basilica, including Clement VIII, Paul V, Sixtus V, St. Pius V, and Francis.

References

Citations

  1. "Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura". Whc.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.