Of
all the great Roman Churches and basilicas the Church
of St Mary Major Rome enjoys the most successful blend
of different architectural styles. Its colonnaded triple
nave is part of the original 5th Century building. The
Cosmatesque marble floor and delightful Romanesque bell
tower, with its blue ceramic roundels, are from the
medieval period. The Renaissance saw a new coffered
ceiling, and the baroque gave the church twin domes
and its most imposing front and rear facades. The mosaics
are St Mary Major's most famous feature. From the 5th
century come the biblical scenes in the nave and the
spectacular mosaics on the triumphal arch. Medieval
highlights include a 13th century enthroned Christ in
the loggia. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore is also
famous for its' excesses and instigated some violent
demonstrations by the protestants who vehemently opposed
the decoration of the entire ceiling with gold leaf
when thousands were starving... Today, the church remains
one of Rome's most fascinating churches and is well
worth a visit.
Did you Know?
The whole of the ceiling above the nave and loggia was
completely covered in gold and gold leaf. This caused
consternation amongst christian groups and events like
this and others gave rise to the protestant faith who
"protested" against the excesses of the Catholic
Church in Rome.
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