The Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore is an ancient square located in the Rione Trastevere area of Rome, Italy. During the day, it is bustling with both locals conversing and visitors carrying guidebooks. When the night rolls in, the square is populated with international students, native Romans, and other travelers, all eager for a great time in the many nearby cafes and bars.
It is best known for its Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere (Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere), which stands at the center of the square. The construction of the basilica dates back to the time of Emperor Augustus, making it one of the oldest in the city and the first church in Rome dedicated to the Madonna. This church is famous for the unique facade depicting the image of Maria breastfeeding Jesus, which is the earliest known image of its kind. It is also believed to have been built over an early Christian foundation, further adding to its historic significance. Furthermore, Mass was first openly celebrated in this church, marking a new era for the Roman Catholic Church.
On one side of the square stands the 17th-century Palazzo San Callisto, owned by the Holy See. The Palazzo San Callisto, also known as the Palace of Saint Callixtus, is a Baroque-style palace situated in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome. It is one of several extraterritorial Properties of the Holy See, meaning it has a unique status that is regulated by the 1929 Lateran Treaty signed between the Kingdom of Italy and the Vatican. The original Palazzo is located in the Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, while its extensions have an entrance in the Piazza di San Callisto. Within the courtyard of the palace lies the well where, according to tradition, Pope Callixtus I was martyred in the year 222.
The fountain in the middle of the square – Fountain in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest monuments in Rome. It was first documented in a plan by Pietro del Massaio in 1471, and its shape is similar to the one visible today. The fountain has gone through several restorations, beginning with Clement VIII Aldobrandini in 1604 and most notably by Alexander VII Chigi in 1659. Gian Lorenzo Bernini also made some changes to the fountain, most notably replacing four double shells facing outwards with four larger shells facing inwards. The current shells date back to 1692, when Carlo Fontana made changes to the fountain under the pontificate of Innocenzo XII Pignatelli. These four epigraphs provide a brief but turbulent history of the fountain.
Our walking map of Trastevere is the ideal companion for an adventure in this charming neighborhood.
