Basilica of Saint Mary Major Audioguide and Optional Add-Ons
Description
The Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore has stood over Rome for sixteen centuries, housing an extraordinary blend of art, history, and spirituality. Located on the Esquiline Hill, it is one of Rome’s four Papal Basilicas. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary inspired its construction, making it one of the city’s most revered sites. Inside, admire the Bernini family tomb, the Baptistery, the Holy Door, and countless masterpieces. The basilica also holds the tomb of Pope Francis, adding a contemporary and meaningful touch. Learn about the pontiffs: Pope Francis places his apostolic journeys under the protection of Salus, visiting the basilica before departure and upon returning. The Christmas Eve Mass has been celebrated here for centuries, a cherished papal tradition. Enhance your visit by climbing the Dome, where a breathtaking panoramic view of Rome awaits—a perfect way to combine art, faith, and an unforgettable perspective over the Eternal City.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore the Basilica of Saint Mary Major at your own pace with an informative audioguide. Discover its stunning mosaics, Baroque chapels, and ornate interiors, while learning the history and significance of this iconic Roman basilica. Perfect for visitors seeking a flexible and immersive experience.
This activity is available only if the Dome option is selected: discover the Basilica of Saint Mary Major with an audioguide and enjoy breathtaking views from the Dome. Explore its mosaics, chapels, and ornate interiors, then climb to the top for a unique perspective over Rome. A perfect combination of art, history, and panoramic sights.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The entrance to the Basilica is free of charge and doesn't require an entrance ticket.
- You must observe the dress code to access the Santa Maria Maggiore (no shorts, vests, or sleeveless tops)
- For safety reasons, the Dome visit is not suitable for children under 7 years old.
- Please bring an ID as caution for the audioguide.
Reviews(26)
We initially planned to spend 1.5 hours in the Basillica and ended up there over 3 hours! There is so much to take in and the audio guide was very beneficial. Having a reservation is recommended although the instructions and process in approaching security was odd in that there was not a separate way in (the reservation line basically meets the non-reserve line in a way that is not managed). We also never met anyone to gain tickets or skip the line access. We were simply sent a ticket voucher via WhatsApp. We would suggest purchasing tickets to the optional areas.
Very nice visit, our guide Alessia speaks several languages, knows his subject very well and is very smiling and helpful.
Pinda very good service very friendly
We had booked a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore from your website, and on arrival we had quite a few setbacks: first of all the operator had a lot of difficulty exchanging our reservation for the actual tickets due to technical problems, delaying our entry to the Basilica by an hour. She also failed to get us audio guides (we paid €15 for those), and to make up for this inconvenience she provided us with tickets that included a visit to the balcony of the Basilica, but not audio guides (and this ticket would have cost €11). Too bad that, asking her where we should go to make the visit to the Basilica and then to the balcony, she pointed us to the entrance of the Basilica. But the entrance to the balcony was not the same as the Basilica, but an adjacent one, and we realized this too late. In fact we exceeded the initial time of the visit, and we had to wait a good half hour to finally do it. All in all the service today was poor, also because all these problems were suffered only by us, and not the other people who had booked the Basilica with your service
Gentile cliente, grazie per la sua recensione, siamo molto dispiaciuti per gli inconvenienti subiti in larga parte derivanti da un problema tecnico del sistema di prenotazione dei biglietti della Basilica. Vorremmo che ci scrivesse nel dettaglio l'accaduto alla mail info@touristation.it, grazie per la sua attenzione. Servizio Clienti Touristation
There were some mishaps with the tickets but thanks to the Pinda guide we solved everything and also visited the dome, thank you very much! If you go to Santa Maria Maggiore you hope to find her!
Gentile Cliente, La ringraziamo sinceramente per aver condiviso il suo feedback con noi! Siamo lieti di sapere che ha avuto un'esperienza positiva e non vediamo l'ora di accoglierla di nuovo in futuro. Cordiali saluti, Touristation Customer Service
Alima has been great, the bonus did not burden me but she has made everything very easy. A 10 for her. That's how it's nice to travel with such professional people.
Great credit to the girl (maybe Claudia?) Who this morning at 9.30 (December 9, 2025) welcomed me, accompanied and well explained how to access the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome
Gentile Cliente, La ringraziamo di cuore per la sua meravigliosa recensione! Per il team di Touristation è di fondamentale importanza offrire un'esperienza di tour memorabile e piacevole, e il suo feedback ha un valore enorme per noi. Non vediamo l'ora di accoglierla nuovamente presto! Cordiali saluti, Touristation Customer Service
Good service. They have treated us very well and good explanations. Giorgina was watching the whole time and has helped us a lot
Estimado Alberto, Le agradecemos sinceramente por compartir su opinión con nosotros. Nos alegra saber que tuvo una experiencia positiva y esperamos poder darle la bienvenida nuevamente en el futuro. Atentamente, Servicio al Cliente de Touristation
We booked the visit and the chosen day and time Helietta attended us, a real professional from start to finish. 100% recommended.
Estimado Cliente, ¡Muchas gracias por su amable reseña! Nos emociona saber que su experiencia recorriendo Roma con Touristation fue tanto divertida como inspiradora. ¡Sus comentarios significan mucho para nosotros! ¡Esperamos darle la bienvenida nuevamente muy pronto para otra experiencia inolvidable! Atentamente, Servicio al Cliente de Touristation
This was a disappointment because we were not given the audiohead sets we paid for. The lady at the church portico where we were instructed to go did not provide them to us. I will contact my credit card company and Trip Advisor about the problem.
Dear Customer, Thank you for sharing your opinion with us. We are truly sorry to learn that your experience did not meet your expectations. At Touristation, customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we deeply value all feedback, as every review is considered an opportunity to improve our services. Considering that your review does not include the information needed to identify your booking, we kindly ask you to contact us at info@touristation.it. Our team is always available and ready to assist you. We hope to have the chance to provide you with a better experience in the future. Best regards, Touristation Customer Service
