Piazza di San Maria Maggiore - Piazzas of Italy by Ultimate Italy

Piazza Di San Maria Maggiore

This square is one of the more ancient squares in Rome. It is located behind the apse of the basilica of Saint Mary Major and was thus named after the church of San Maria Maggiore. It is also called Piazza del’ Esquiline as it stands on the Esquiline Hill.

There is an obelisk at the center of the square. It is one of a pair. The other one is found at the Piazza del Quirinale. It is nearly 15metres high and is made of red granite. It has no inscriptions on it hence although some historians attribute an Egyptian origin belonging to the first century it may be a Roman copy. In 1587 Dominic Fontana had it erected in the piazza as per the orders of Pope Sixtus V. It was found in three pieces in 1519 when excavations were carried out at the Mausoleum of Augustus. Two small churches dedicated to Saint Albert and Saint Luke were destroyed to make way for erecting the obelisk. Both the obelisk at Piazza del Quirinale and the one at Piazza del’Esquiline can be seen from the crossing of the Four Fountains (Quattro Fontane).

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major is an ancient church, which was built in 358 A. D. by Pope Liberius. Hence it is also known as Basilica Liberiana. It was built over the pagan temple of Cybele. Pope Sixtus III rebuilt it from 432-440. It even served as a temporary Palace of the Popes when the Lateran Palace was deteriorating. The papal residence was later moved to the Palace of the Vatican in Vatican City. In the year 200 this 1600-year-old church was restored. It is the only Roman basilica, which has retained its original shape despite several additions.

The exterior of the church is baroque while the interior has Byzantine influences. The fine campanile is the highest in Rome. In the portico there is a bronze statue of Philip IV of Spain. There is a beautiful staircase and another bronze statue. This is a statue of Paul V built by Paulo Sanquirico in 1605. It is a very beautiful church. Its nave has stunning fifth century Roman mosaics. Flamingo Ponzo designed the beautiful Pauline (Borghese Chapel). There are also four eighteenth statues of angels by P. Bracci. The caisson ceiling is attributed to Sangallo and was thought to be gilded by gold brought by Christopher Columbus from America. This church has a lot of beauty and artistry and sculptures from many of the famous Italian artists sculptors and architects through the ages and I have mentioned only some of their works. Bernini the architect famous for all the fountains he designed all over Rome is buried here.

This square offers a lot both to the first time visitor as well as the devout follower with its sanctimonious church and interesting obelisk.