Of all the great Roman Churches
and basilicas the Church of St Mary Major Rome enjoys the
most successful blend of different architectural styles. Its
colonnaded triple nave is part of the original 5th Century
building. The Cosmatesque marble floor and delightful Romanesque
bell tower, with its blue ceramic roundels, are from the medieval
period. The Renaissance saw a new coffered ceiling, and the
baroque gave the church twin domes and its most imposing front
and rear facades. The mosaics are St Mary Major's most famous
feature. From the 5th century come the biblical scenes in
the nave and the spectacular mosaics on the triumphal arch.
Medieval highlights include a 13th century enthroned Christ
in the loggia. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore is also
famous for its' excesses and instigated some violent demonstrations
by the protestants who vehemently opposed the decoration of
the entire ceiling with gold leaf when thousands were starving...
Today, the church remains one of Rome's most fascinating churches
and is well worth a visit.
Did you Know?
The whole of the ceiling above the nave and loggia was completely
covered in gold and gold leaf. This caused consternation amongst
christian groups and events like this and others gave rise
to the protestant faith who "protested" against
the excesses of the Catholic Church in Rome. |
