Rome and its churches II

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is another Catholic church considered the largest of the 26 churches of the city dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is known as the Basilica of Santa Maria de la Neve and was built on the site where Mary appeared in the dream of Pope Liberio. Every summer on August 5, a solemn Mass is celebrated with a rain of white petals falling from the dome of the church on the altar while Gloria is sung. This religious holiday is reminiscent of the miracle snow that led to the construction of this church. The mosaics, Ionic columns and arches in the church are original and come from Roman buildings. Impressive is the ceiling that was made during the time of Pope Alexander IV and was decorated with brought by Columbus from America. The basilica tower is the tallest in Rome and rises above the city with a height of 75 meters.

Points of tourist interest The great treasure of the church consists of the early Christian mosaics of the fifth century with religious scenes from the life of Mary and the baby Jesus. From the Roman era are the 27 panels from the Roman era located under the central windows with scenes from the Old Testament.
The mosaic in the apse dates from the Middle Ages. Nativity Cave The Grotto of the Natividad, the Chapels among which we meet the Sistine Chapel, the Sforza Chapel drawn by Michelangelo and the tombs of some popes including Pope Pius V and Bernini. Also worth visiting is the church museum, which has many religious objects, including a 13th-century Bethlehem by Arnolfo di Cambio.

The Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura is set outside the walls of the old town. It was built in the 4th century, during the reign of Emperor Constantine on the site of the tomb of St. Paul. An impressive religious monument that suffered a fire in 1823, many of the works of art being destroyed.
The reconstruction of the temple took a century. The interior of the church is impressed with huge alabaster columns and gilded mosaics. What catches your eye is the 13th century mosaic in the apse, the cloister from the same century, the atrium with the 150 columns and the canopy from 1825 under which is the tomb of Saint Paul. The 12th century Paschal chandelier with impressive scenes of the Crucifixion withstood the fire.
If you look at the ceiling of the church you will notice all the popes of the Catholic church painted. From the old paintings, 42 that are now in the Church Museum have been saved. In the center of the inner courtyard is the statue of St. Paul guarding the church. Of special beauty is the Byzantine door that was made in the eleventh century and was the central door of the old church.