The Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is an ancient basilica crowning the Capitoline Hill, known for its artwork and historic relics

  Loading
Relevance Price Price Rating

Showing 1 to 2 of 2 Offers

Vittoriano Piazza del Campidoglio & Santa Maria in Aracoeli Guided Tour in Rome

  No Reviews

 1 hour 30 minutes

$47

Mobile Voucher Accepted

Take this 1.5 hour guided tour for a journey through Italian history!<br><br> Learn about one of Rom...

SEE IT

Offered by Viator

Vittoriano Santa Maria in Aracoeli and Capitol Hill Small Group Tour in Rome

  No Reviews

 90 minutes

$35

...

SEE IT

Offered by Viator

Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Rome

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is an ancient basilica crowning the Capitoline Hill, known for its artwork and historic relics.

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is an ancient basilica crowning the Capitoline Hill, known for its artwork and historic relics. A steep 124 step marble stairway leads to the Romanesque church with an unfinished brick façade. In contrast to the austere exterior, the rich interior has beautiful frescoes, coffered wooden gilt ceiling and Cosmatesque flooring with tomb slabs.

The highlight of the basilica is the 15th century statue (replica) of the Santo Bambino of Aracoeli, carved in olive wood coming from the Gethsemane garden by a Franciscan monk and covered with valuable ex-votos. Believed to have miraculous healing powers, it was stolen in 1994 and substituted with a replica. It plays a significant role in Christmas ceremony, when it is brought to the Baroque throne of the high altar at midnight and paraded to the Nativity crib in the left nave where it stays till Epiphany.

The basilica houses relics of Saint Helena - mother of Constantine the Great, remains of Saint Juniper - one of the original followers of Saint Francis of Assisi and the tablet monogrammed with Jesus used by Saint Bernardino of Siena to preach.

Among the works of art in the church are a series of 15th century Pinturicchio frescoes in the Bufalini Chapel illustrating the life of St Bernadine of Siena, motifs on the ceiling commemorating the Battle of Lepanto, Transfiguration painting by Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta, the tombstone of Giovanni Crivelli by Donatello, the tomb of Cecchino dei Bracci designed by Michelangelo, fresco of Madonna and Child in the Chapel of Our Lady Refuge of Sinners, a Gothic sepulchral monument by Arnolfo di Cambio, and works by other artists like Pietro Cavallini, Benozzo Gozzoli and Giulio Romano.


Hours

Sun

7:00

19:00

Mon

7:00

19:00

Tue

7:00

19:00

Wed

7:00

19:00

Thu

7:00

19:00

Fri

7:00

19:00

Sat

7:00

19:00

About Santa Maria in Aracoeli

 Scala dell'Arcicapitolina, 12, 00186 Roma, Italy

 +39 06 6976 3839

 www.vicariatusurbis.org

Santa Maria in Aracoeli and Nearby Sights on Map

Piazza del Campidoglio

On top of the Capitol hill, the piazza was designed by Michelangelo

Musei Capitolini

St. Peter's Basilica

Towering over the skyline of the Vatican City, the Basilica of Saint Peter is one of the largest and most renowned churches in the world

Palazzo dei Conservatori

Also based on a Michelangelo architectural plan, this compact gallery is well endowed in classical sculpture and paintings

Capitoline Hill

The Capitoline Hill may be the smallest of the Seven Hills of Rome, but it certainly was important to the ancient Romans who believed that it was indestructible, and adopted it as a symbol of eternity

Altare della Patria

The Altare della Patria or Altar of the Father honors Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy and Father of the Fatherland

Piazza Venezia

More of an enormous traffic circle than a piazza, but a good central location

Tabularium

The remains of the ancient Roman archives, where Cicero and Seneca did research

Palazzo Venezia

In the very heart of the city center, the building was for centuries ago the seat of the Venice embassy

Mamertine Prison

Leaders of Rome's defeated enemies were imprisoned here where they either died of starvation or strangulation