Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Campitelli
How to get there
- Fori Imperiali-Colosseo • 10 min walk
- Colosseo • 10 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
757 reviews
Excellent
468
Very good
253
Average
31
Poor
1
Terrible
4
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Marina and Co. Ltd
St. Petersburg, Russia80,613 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Scala dell'Arce Capitolina. Our guide friend Elena told us the history of this God-built building. Legend has it that in this place the heavens opened before Emperor Augustus and a girl of unearthly beauty with a baby in her arms appeared above and said: “Here is the altar of the Firstborn of the Lord.” The altar was immediately built and Augustus secured his reputation as the only worthy pagan among the Roman rulers. At the first opportunity, the Greek monks established a monastery here, and the Benedictines, who took their place in the 9th century, built the Chiesa Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli), which quickly became one of the most popular churches in the city. In the Middle Ages, Aracheli replaced the Forum for the Romans. Meetings took place there, appointments were made, Cola di Rienzo raised the people to fight the barons. And he did something like this, from the top of the stairs, but the steep climb of 124 steps, which to this day leads from the foot of the hill to the entrance to the church, was built only a year after his exile, in gratitude for saving Rome from the terrible plague of 1348 (which is described in “The Decameron”). Later, magical properties began to be attributed to the stairs; those who wanted to win the lottery had to climb it on their knees at midnight, praying to the Mother of God and converting everything that caught their eye into numbers. The task is actually not an easy one, this will be felt by everyone who decides to climb, even in the traditional way.🤣 But it’s still worth climbing to the top to see the magical “Life of St. Bernardine of Siena” by Pinturicchio (in the first chapel on the right) or “Saint Anthony of Padua” performed by B. Gozzoli (third chapel from the left). In addition, there is also the Pieta Chapel (second from the right) with frescoes by Pomarancio, a 13th-century mosaic with the Madonna and saints (to the right of the altar, in the back) and a gilded carved ceiling with which the Romans thanked Admiral Marc Antonio Colonna for the defeat of the Turkish fleet at Lepanto in 1571 (the details of the battle are allegorically reflected on the ceiling fresco). ☝️Lovers of the supernatural should pay attention to the wooden figurine of the baby Jesus (Statua del Bambino Gesu), kept in a glass and gold cocoon to the left of the altar. It is believed that this idol (a tree from the Garden of Gethsemane was used on it) can heal from any disease and raise from the dead, you just need to believe in it.☝️ Even details are reported, if the Baby is able to help, then his lips turn red, and if the matter hopeless - they remain pale.☝️A must visit.
Written November 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gin3vra♡
Naples, Italy374 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Near the Altare della Patria and the Capitoline staircase there is a steep staircase that leads to the Basilica. The external facade of the church, bare, without any frieze, of bricks does not provide any clue about the beauty of the interior. The church is certainly very ancient, with 3 naves separated by marble columns, each different from the other. The floor is also made of marble, with geometric designs of various colors. Inside, in the hushed silence, I reflected on how many people over the centuries have walked right there, stepping on every meter and making the floor so smooth. The nativity scene was still set up in the left aisle from the entrance. The wooden and gilded ceiling is also beautiful. I visited it just before closing for the evening, there was no one there, little light as it was already dark outside. It was a nice moment of reflection
Written February 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maura K
37 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
The climb up to this Basilica is well worth the effort. This is stunning, with many fine paintings and works of architecture inside. The man in the little gift shop to the side was very hospitable and even gave us information in English on specific works of art and architecture within the Basilica. It’s a pity that there is no translation into English and other languages on any sign/point of information. It is all written in Italian only. There is no admission charge.
Written June 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Farsong Rethna
Madrid, Spain8,647 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
Spectacular. Although its façade does not attract much attention and the staircase in summer may seem impossible... It is undoubtedly worth climbing its more than 100 steps to see it.
The coffered ceilings are spectacular, floor mosaics, frescoes, sculptures and lamps. It's beautiful, truly amazing.
Free entrance.
The coffered ceilings are spectacular, floor mosaics, frescoes, sculptures and lamps. It's beautiful, truly amazing.
Free entrance.
Written September 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
angela0809
Genoa, Italy2,927 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
Built on the ruins of the Temple of Juno, it took on its current appearance in Romanesque style in the Middle Ages. The long staircase that precedes it dates back to 1348 and was traditionally climbed on one's knees to ask for graces of various kinds. Inside are frescoes by Pinturicchio and a copy of the venerated Holy Child which tradition has it was carved in wood from the Garden of Gethsemane.
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emy b
Catanzaro, Italy17,284 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
I attended a wedding and it was wonderful. The church is sober on the outside so rich inside. Note the many crystal chandeliers hanging on the altar and arranged in two parallel rows a short distance away. The only problem is the impossibility for people with disabilities to climb the many steps.
Automatically translated
Written June 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Exploring Chris
Calgary, Canada245 contributions
Jan 2022
The exterior of this cathedral is fairly unassuming compared to many of the other cathedrals/basilicas in Rome, so we we spent many trips to Rome passing next to it on our way to the Capitoline Museum or just passing the Victor Emmanuel II monument, but never going in. We finally walked up the impressive staircase which leads to the front (and earns you the right to have more gelato) and visited the church and really impressed. We spent the better part of an hour touring the beautifully decorated interior.
Written February 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
francopandolfi
Rome, Italy128 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
this large basilica in the center of Rome with works by Pinturicchio, Donatello, Gozzoli, Bregno among others, is shamefully forbidden to disabled people.
Not being able to climb the staircase, I had informed myself and they assured me that upon entering the Victorian building from the institute for the history of the Risorgimento (immediately on the left when looking at the church staircase) there was an elevator that takes you to the panoramic terrace which is at the level of the entry into the basilica. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the terrace, I found the gate (in the photo) closed with a chain. I called the number of the basilica and a kind gentleman arrived and told me that he didn't have the keys and that that gate is closed 365 days a day. year. I appeal to the Authorities to take the necessary steps to make this treasure accessible to all
Not being able to climb the staircase, I had informed myself and they assured me that upon entering the Victorian building from the institute for the history of the Risorgimento (immediately on the left when looking at the church staircase) there was an elevator that takes you to the panoramic terrace which is at the level of the entry into the basilica. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the terrace, I found the gate (in the photo) closed with a chain. I called the number of the basilica and a kind gentleman arrived and told me that he didn't have the keys and that that gate is closed 365 days a day. year. I appeal to the Authorities to take the necessary steps to make this treasure accessible to all
Written December 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam C
Poznan, Poland899 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Walking from Vittoriano towards the Colosseum, you will probably face a choice and long stairs. Go left or right. It is definitely worth taking the long stairs on the left and entering the Basilica. A beautiful church, numerous decorations and paintings. So it's definitely worth going a little further and entering. Although there are some stairs.
Written September 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott
San Francisco, CA6,634 contributions
Jan 2022 • Solo
Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara coeli
Beautiful as basilica's go. 1200s era. Definitely a religious attraction, but I must see if you want to see some intricate artwork and architecture.
Beautiful as basilica's go. 1200s era. Definitely a religious attraction, but I must see if you want to see some intricate artwork and architecture.
Written January 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have a question about Midnight Mass at this church. Is it indeed at Midnight? How early should one arrive to get a seat?
Ho una domanda sulla messa di mezzanotte di Natale in questa chiesa. È davvero a mezzanotte? Con quanto anticipo bisogna arrivare per prendere posto?
Written December 20, 2022
Hi, I don’t know, we were just visiting. It may be worth looking on their website.
Written December 21, 2022
Will Santa Maria in Aracoeli have a midnight mass this year 2016 and can one just turn up? How soon before mass starts should one arrive in order to get a seat?
Written December 11, 2016
You can go there before 4 pm, I think there are no mass at all
Written December 11, 2016
Is there a fee to visit this church?
Written October 10, 2016
No fee - all churches are free in Rome
Written November 14, 2016
So I am in Rome currently and I visited this church at around 2 pm. But their souvenir shop was closed and was wondering if it had open and closing times. Thank you.
Written July 8, 2015
Oh I wish I could help you. Such a beautiful church. Was one of the greatest surprises of my Rome experience.
Written July 9, 2015
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