The Central Nave of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome

Central nave Basilica The Basilica's central nave is remarkable for its 36 Greek marble columns adorned with Ionic capitals.

The central nave of Saint Mary Major is 86 metres long, 16 metres wide and 16 metres high.

It was Pope Calixtus III who is said to have ordered the golden coffered decoration of the ceiling in 1455.

According to Vasari, Giuliano da Sangallo is said to have designed the drawings for this ceiling.

However, it features the blazons of Calixtus III, pope from 1455 to 1458, as well as that of Alexander VI, pope from 1492 to 1503.

Central nave Basilica It therefore appears that this ceiling was made during the pontificate of Alexander VI and not during that of Calixtus III.

A remarkable feature of this ceiling is that the gold that covers it was donated by the king of Spain, Philip IV.

Its bronze statue can also be found in the portico.

This gold is said to be the first to have crossed the Atlantic Ocean, coming straight from the land of the Incas, Peru.

Over the main entrance to the basilica is the blazon of Pope Benoit XIV, created by Ledoux to designs by Ferdinando Fuga.

Central Nave Basilica