Rome's Sacred Art: Explore Ancient Treasures

Discover hidden treasures of Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore at dawn. Explore iconic spaces and undergrounds in serene silence. Experience Rome’s spiritual heart.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - Tour Itinerary:

• The Underground: Explore the archaeological remains that uncover the ancient origins and captivating history beneath the Basilica.

• The Basilica: Appreciate the grandeur of its mosaics and the tomb of John Paul II.

• Museum and Bernini: Visit the museum to admire the exquisite Bernini staircase and the historic Lodge of Blessings.

What's Included
  • Entrance to the Archaeological Zone, with access to the underground
  • Assistance for on-site check-in, with easily recognizable Tourismotion staff
  • Entrance to the Museal Areas, the Lodge of Blessings, and the Bernini staircase
  • Expert guide
  • Headphones
What's Not Included
  • Tips
  • Collection
  • Access to the terrace
Additional Information

Uncover the most well-preserved gem of Christendom and enjoy an unexpected, genuine Roman experience.
Guided by a sacred art expert, this tour steers clear of typical tourist crowds.
• Gain exclusive access to archaeological excavations, exploring the Underground to reveal its Roman houses and medieval foundations.
• Visit the tomb of Pope Francis and…

Location
Via Liberiana, 27
Via Liberiana
Our check-in team will wait for you on the left of the entrance, exactly at Via Liberiana, 27. Staff will carry a Tourismotion logo sign
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.7
(6 Ratings)
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1 star
Elviradf7789ce
Apr 10, 2026
An unexpected gem - We didn't know this church before this visit. How is our second trip to Rome we wanted to see something less touristic. The church is spectacular and has so many curiosities and things to see that the tour got short. Probably in my top 10 to see in Rome! Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tonine_m
Dec 4, 2025
Wonderful to have a... - Wonderful to have a private tour at this magnificent Basilica. We would recommend an early tour. Great cafes in the area.
Review provided by Viator
Ailisf2025
Sep 3, 2025
Amazing! - I highly recommend this tour, there is a lot of history behind such a colossal monument, our wonder and charm would not have been the same without Matilda, our guide, an enthusiastic person of art history who immerses you in the most important events of the time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
527carlaandread
Aug 25, 2025
Very good! - I did the Colosseum tour with Giulia... it was very kind and funny, as well as explaining very well! Well Enterprise, respond quickly x WhatsApp if you have any questions!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
431amief
Dec 8, 2025
Terrible experience - An impersonal, unprofessional waste of time. - Terrible experience - we booked this sunrise tour advertised as early bird exclusive access to the Santa Maria Maggiore and Underground, arriving early as suggested at 7:10am to get set up. We waited until 7:45am with an admin, and our tour guide was over 35 minutes late! By the time we started, the church was full, we were rushed through with no introduction or welcome, half of our headsets not working, with crappy audio. We were here to have a personal, meaningful tour and take in the magnificence of the church, but our experience was the opposite! A quarter of the way through we were told we weren’t allowed underground (what we all paid to see) and at that point, we left the tour. We had a better time exploring the church ourselves, which we could have accessed for free. An impersonal, unprofessional waste of time. Will be seeking compensation for this poor experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Avagovanstone1998
Dec 8, 2025
Avoid! Late guide, disorganised and rushed. - Avoid! Attended a tour today where the guide was late (because she was 'having breakfast' whilst we had none to be there on time), meaning by the time it started the church was already full. Not very early bird! She didn't stop to introduce herself or make sure our group could hear her OK through the headphones. We couldn't, and when we asked her to speak into the microphones, she replied with annoyance that she needed 'both hands.' The tour was rushed and extremely difficult to follow with no time for photos. We couldn't see the cradle of the Christ, which was not explained to us until we were in the church and then rushed along, which greatly upset several members of the group. At this point we decided to leave the tour, so I cannot say how the remainder of the tour through the museum was. Overall, you will have a much better time just going into the church (for free, I might add) or buying an additional ticket to the museum for 8 euro. The church is beautiful, but overall this experience was extremely disappointing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $45
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).