# Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy: what it is and when to go > Santa Maria Maggiore is a largest Catholic Marian church in Rome (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore) in Italy. Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is March to June and September to October. In June there are 15 h 02 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 58. It has articles in 53 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Italy: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/basilica-de-santa-maria-la-mayor/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Largest Catholic Marian church in Rome · Temples - **Local name:** Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - **Where:** Italy · Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 00185, Roma - **Best time:** March to June and September to October. - **Nearest airport:** FCO Rome, 23 km as the crow flies - **Opening hours:** Mo-Su 07:00-19:00 - **Website:** [basilicasantamariamaggiore.va](https://www.basilicasantamariamaggiore.va) - **Accessibility:** Wheelchair accessible - **Coordinates:** 41.89761, 12.49846 ## What it is and where Santa Maria Maggiore is a largest Catholic Marian church in Rome (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore) in Italy. It has articles in 53 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Italy: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Rome](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/roma/), where this site lists 676 more places to see, 1.4 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 41.89761, 12.49846; the nearest main airport is Rome–Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO, Rome), 23 km as the crow flies. How to get around Italy (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=41.897609%2C12.498458) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.897609%2C12.498458) - **Accessibility:** Wheelchair accessible It is one of the [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/espiritual/) places in Italy. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Santa Maria Maggiore is **March to June and September to October**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 17 | | February | Possible | 10 h 22 | | March | Best time | 11 h 40 | | April | Best time | 13 h 08 | | May | Best time | 14 h 22 | | June | Best time | 15 h 02 | | July | Possible | 14 h 46 | | August | Possible | 13 h 42 | | September | Best time | 12 h 16 | | October | Best time | 10 h 50 | | November | Possible | 9 h 35 | | December | Possible | 8 h 58 | In June there are 15 h 02 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 58. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Italy in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Italy To enter Italy there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Italy checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C, F and L · 230 V · 50 Hz (type L, with three pins in a row, needs an adapter); emergencies: 112. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Esquiline Obelisk](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/obelisco-esquilino/): Obelisk in Rome · 101 m - [Santa Prassede](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/basilica-de-santa-praxedes/): Medieval church in Rome · 154 m - [Sant'Antonio Abate all'Esquilino](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/chiesa-di-sant-antonio-abate-all-esquilino/): Church of Rome, in the Esquilino district, in Via Carlo Alberto · 178 m - [Gesù Bambino all'Esquilino](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/chiesa-del-bambin-gesu-a-via-urbana/): Church · 217 m - [St. Alphonsus Liguori Church, Rome](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/sant-alfonso-dei-liguori/): Church · 263 m Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Italy guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/). ## More in Italy: Temples - [St. Peter's Basilica](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/basilica-de-san-pedro/): church in Vatican City - [Catania](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/catania-2/) - [Sistine Chapel](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/capilla-sixtina/): chapel in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City - [Pantheon, Rome](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/panteon/): ancient Roman temple in Rome, Italy - [Milan Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/catedral-de-milan/): cathedral church of Milan, Italy - [Florence Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/santa-maria-del-fiore/): 13th-century cathedral in Florence, Italy Every Italy place under Temples, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/espiritual/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Santa Maria Maggiore? It is a largest Catholic Marian church in Rome (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in the local language) in Italy. It has articles in 53 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Italy: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Santa Maria Maggiore? March to June and September to October. In June there are 15 h 02 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 58. ### How do you get to Santa Maria Maggiore? The nearest main airport is Rome–Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), 23 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.897609%2C12.498458) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Italy is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Italy map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Esquiline Obelisk](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/obelisco-esquilino/), [Santa Prassede](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/basilica-de-santa-praxedes/), [Sant'Antonio Abate all'Esquilino](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/chiesa-di-sant-antonio-abate-all-esquilino/). The rest is in [the Italy guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/italia/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/131564482), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186282), CC0. More about Santa Maria Maggiore on [Wikipedia](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_di_Santa_Maria_Maggiore). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).