Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Small-Group Guided Tour

Explore the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on an English-guided tour focused on mosaics and hidden history.

Getting started

Arrive at Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome 10–15 minutes before your scheduled time. Go to the Portico, the covered walkway with columns at the front of the basilica, and present your voucher, printed or on your mobile device, to the official Basilica Reception Staff for check-in before meeting your guide.

What to expect

Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Visit one of Rome's most important basilicas, Santa Maria Maggiore, on a focused route that brings out its art, symbols, and stories. Your time inside is structured so you move beyond the main nave highlights and into the basilica's hidden history and significance.

Features

• A local, expert English-speaking guide leads your guided tour of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, keeping the group together and setting the pace as you move between key areas.
• Commentary on mosaics and hidden history helps you interpret the basilica's art and symbols, so you understand how its stories, decorations, and spaces connect to its role in Rome.
• Your guide points out Santa Maria Maggiore’s hidden stories, art, and symbols in context, highlighting details that are often missed on a simple walk-through.
• You experience the basilica as part of a small-group visit, going beyond surface-level highlights to explore how Santa Maria Maggiore became one of Rome's most significant religious sites.