TourTruth score 9.4 out of 10
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Rome Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica Tour, 45 min
TourTruth score 6.9 out of 10
Average
2 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Rome, Italy
- 45 min
- Updated November 2, 2026
Explore Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica with a guide, from 5th-century mosaics and gold ceilings to the tomb of Pope Francis.
About this tour
Step into one of Rome’s most storied churches on a guided visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Inside this architectural landmark, centuries of faith and artistry unfold beneath gold-coffered ceilings and vivid 5th-century mosaics.
Follow your guide through the nave and apse as biblical scenes come into view, then hear the story behind the legend of the miraculous August snowfall. Continue toward the high altar and the Crypt of the Nativity, where historic wooden relics are kept. The visit also brings you to the tomb of Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini and the simple marble resting place of Pope Francis, near the revered icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani. Headsets help you hear the guide clearly throughout the 45-minute tour.
A licensed professional guide leads this introduction to the basilica’s art, history, and sacred spaces. Book your Rome Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica tour to explore its remarkable details and stories firsthand.
Highlights
- Admire 5th-century biblical mosaics across the nave and apse
- Look up at the basilica’s gold-coffered ceilings
- Hear the legend of the miraculous August snowfall
- See the Crypt of the Nativity and Pope Francis’s tomb
- Discover the resting place of Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini
What's included
Included
- Licensed professional tour guide
- Headsets for clear audio throughout the tour
Not included
- Personal expenses, food, and drinks
- Dome or terrace access
- Skip-the-line access
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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View on ViatorViator
3.00 / 5 · 2 reviews
Important information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 3.00 from 2 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Rome
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 6.9.
Provider rating distribution in Rome
How many tours in Rome have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
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- Viator
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