Santa Maria in Trastevere, Minor basilica in Trastevere district, Rome, Italy.
The basilica features three naves separated by granite columns from the Baths of Caracalla, with a Romanesque bell tower and thirteenth-century golden mosaics.
Pope Callixtus I established a Christian community in 220 at this location, converting a tavern into one of the first official churches in Rome.
The central apse mosaics depict Christ and the Virgin surrounded by saints, while the lower register illustrates scenes from the life of Mary.
The basilica welcomes visitors daily from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM, with reduced hours in August, and offers free entry to all areas.
According to legend, a spring of oil emerged at this location in 38 BCE, which the Jewish population interpreted as a sign of the Messiah's arrival.
Location: Roma Capitale
Inception: 12 century
Architects: Carlo Fontana
Architectural style: Romanesque architecture
Length: 56 m
Width: 30 m
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07:30-20:30
Website: https://santamariaintrastevere.it
GPS coordinates: 41.88944,12.46972
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:00
Rome contains over 900 churches that demonstrate two thousand years of sacred architecture, from Roman antiquity to the Baroque period. These buildings reveal the evolution of construction techniques and artistic expressions over the centuries. St. Peter's Basilica covers 20,000 square meters and features a dome designed by Michelangelo. The Pantheon retains its Roman dome with a 43-meter (141 feet) diameter, the largest ever constructed in unreinforced concrete. Major basilicas such as Santa Maria Maggiore showcase Byzantine mosaics from the 5th century beneath a Renaissance ceiling with gilded coffers. Saint Clement's Basilica in the Lateran overlays three levels of construction from the 1st to the 12th centuries, illustrating Rome's urban stratification. Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the city's oldest churches, presents medieval gilded mosaics, while Saint Peter's in Chains houses Michelangelo's Moses. These monuments help understand how Rome shaped European religious architecture for over fifteen centuries.
Rome joins history with modern photography. The city spreads across several hills and holds buildings from different centuries, from ancient ruins to baroque churches and fountains. Photographers find subjects on every street corner, from large public squares to narrow alleys in old neighborhoods. The Colosseum and Roman Forum show the building techniques of ancient Rome. Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona present baroque design with flowing water and sculptures. The Spanish Steps serve as a meeting point where people rest on the steps and watch the activity below. The Pantheon has stood for nearly 2,000 years and impresses through its dome with a circular opening at the center. In Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica rises with its tall dome, and the Vatican Museums contain long galleries filled with artworks. Castel Sant'Angelo stands by the Tiber River and offers a wide view over the city's rooftops from above. Trastevere sits on the other side of the river and shows a different face of Rome: small squares, narrow streets with laundry lines between buildings, and restaurants with tables on the pavement. The church of Santa Maria in Trastevere has a golden mosaic on its facade that glows in the evening light. Campo de' Fiori is a market in the morning with vegetables and flowers, and in the evening the square fills with people. Via Margutta is a quiet street with galleries and plants on the building walls. The Aventine Keyhole shows St. Peter's Dome through a small opening in perfect framing. The Janiculum hill and Villa Borghese Gardens offer green spaces for walking and views over the city. Caracalla Baths and the Appian Way show Rome outside the center, where ancient structures stand in the landscape.
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