The church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli

Standing on the Capitoline Hill, on the site of the ancient citadel, Santa Maria in Aracoeli (literally Saint Mary of the Altar of Heaven) is one of the most famous churches in Rome. Legend has it that the Sibyl of Tibur foretold to the emperor Augustus the coming of Christ. Augustus then had an altar built on this spot, the ara coeli.

Later, in the 6th century, a monastery was built which was given to the Franciscans in the 13th century. They then built this church. Because of its position, beside the Roman senators, the church became an important political centre.

Access is by a staircase of 124 marble steps, offered as an ex-voto to the Virgin in thanks for sparing the city from the plague of 1346.

Getting there : Bus lines (40, 46, 63, 70, 81, 83, 87…)

Address : Scala dell'Arce Capitolina (access from Via del Teatro di Marcello beside Piazza Venezia.

Opening hours : open every day from 7:30 to 19:00.

Ticket prices: free

From the terrace of the church there is a fine view over the city and Piazza del Campidoglio.

The interior of the church is richly decorated. The last church to adopt the basilica plan, the nave is lined with 22 antique columns from the Forum and the Palatine. The superb ceiling is an ex-voto offered by Marcantonio Colonna, commander of the papal fleet at the Battle of Lepanto, won against the Turks.

Several tombs, including that of Pope Gregory XIII, are in the church.

There are also 15th-century frescoes by Pinturicchio in the first chapel on the right, devoted to Saint Bernardino of Siena.

In one chapel you can see a copy of the statue of the Santo Bambino, the original having been stolen.

The miraculous statue had been carved from an olive branch from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and was traditionally carried to the bedside of the sick.