Mary-Major Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations
Art History Apse | Altar Baldachin | Central Nave | Tomb Pope Francis | Triumphal Arch Mosaics | Sides Mosaics | Cosmatesque Pavement Nave | Confession Crypt | Baptistery | Paolina Chapel | Sistine Chapel | Portico | Blessings Lodge | Pope's Hall | Treasury

The Hall of the Popes and Bernini's spiral staircase at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome

The guided tour organised by basilica staff allows access not only to the loge des Blessings Lodge and its superb mosaics, but also to the room of the popes.

The Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
The Hall of the Popes This hall was built between 1605 and 1610, on the orders of Pope Paul V.

Several portraits of popes, cardinals and benefactors of the basilica are on display here, as well as « The Procession of Saint Charles Borromeo » by Domenico Maria Muratori (1662-1749).

You can also see liturgical objects as well as two letters from Saint Peter (Papyrus Bodmer VIII) given to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II.

To reach the Blessings Lodge and the Hall of the Popes, you will pass through a corridor featuring a beautiful bronze statue of Pope Paul V.

Finally, from this Hall of the Popes, you can admire the beautiful helical staircase created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, known as The Bernini.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini Bernini, spiral staircase, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, spiral staircase
Gian Lorenzo Bernini Bernini, spiral staircase, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, spiral staircase
Paolo Sanquirico, statue of Pope Paul V, Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Sanquirico, Paul V
Paolo Sanquirico, statue of Pope Paul V, Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Sanquirico, Paul V
Paolo Sanquirico, statue of Pope Paul V, Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Sanquirico, Paul V
Letters of Saint Peter, Papyrus Bodmer VIII, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Letters of Saint Peter, Papyrus Bodmer VIII
Gregorian chant book, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Gregorian chant book
Attendance book, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Attendance book
Portrait of Pope Clement IX, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Pope Clement IX
Portrait of Pope Clement X, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Pope Clement X
Portrait of Cardinal Barberini, future Pope Urban VIII, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Cardinal Barberini
Portrait of Pope Urban VIII, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Pope Urban VIII
Portrait of Margaret of Austria and Spain, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Marguerite of Austria
Portrait of King Philip IV of Spain, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Philippe IV of Spain
Domenico Maria Muratori, procession of Saint Charles Borromeo, Hall of the Popes of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Domenico Maria Muratori
Portrait of Cardinals Pietro and Jacob Colonna, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Pietro and Jacob Colonna
Portrait of Cardinals Guido and Alexandro Sforza, Hall of the Popes in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Guido Alexandro Sforza

Art History Apse | Altar Baldachin | Central Nave | Tomb Pope Francis | Triumphal Arch Mosaics | Sides Mosaics | Cosmatesque Pavement Nave | Confession Crypt | Baptistery | Paolina Chapel | Sistine Chapel | Portico | Blessings Lodge | Pope's Hall | Treasury
Mary-Major Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations


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