Santa Maria Maggiore square
S. Maria Maggiore was built in 431 A.D. and the apse was rebuilt in the 13th century. The church stands on the Esquilino hill and is the first Roman church to be named after the Holy Virgin. Its bell tower is the highest in Rome. The basilica is rich in works of art, among them the frescos by Guido Reni (1575 - 1642) and the coffered ceiling by Giuliano Giamberti. Under the altar is a crypt containing the remains of St. Matthais, who was the Apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. In front of the confessional, which holds the relics of the Nativity, is a kneeling statue of Pope Pius IX.
