Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri
About
Churches
Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri is the best place to spend your leisure time tasting delicious food and enjoying the nice atmosphere. After visiting our restaurant you will definitely have a wish to come back!
Location
Adress: Piazza della Repubblica, Rome, 00184
Phone: +39 06 4880812
Reviews
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Kimberly J.
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs is a titular basilica church in Rome.
Built inside the frigidarium of the Baths of Diocletian in the Piazza della Repubblica. The basilica is dedicated to the Christian martyrs.
At Santa Maria degli Angeli, Michelangelo achieved an unexampled sequence of shaped architectural spaces with few precedents or followers.
In 2006, Polish-born sculptor Igor Mitoraj created new bronze doors as well as a statue of John the Baptist for the basilica. In April 2010, a five meter high bronze statue of Galileo Galilei Divine Man (designed by 1957 Nobel laureate Tsung-Dao Lee) was unveiled in a courtyard within the complex. The statue (a dedication to the 17th century scientist and philosopher) was a donation from CCAST (China Center of Advanced Science and Technology) and WFS (World Federation of Scientists).
Santa Maria degli Angeli was the official state church during the Kingdom of Italy (1870-1946). More recently, national burials have been held in the church. The church hosts the tombs of General Armando Diaz and Admiral Paolo Thaon di Revel, who were the commanders responsible for winning World War I on the Italian front. Also today the Basilica is used for many ceremonies, included the funeral of soldiers killed abroad.
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Pope Clement XI commissioned the astronomer, mathematician, archaeologist, historian and philosopher Francesco Bianchini to build a meridian line, a sort of sundial, within the basilica. Completed in 1702, the object had a threefold purpose: the pope wanted to check the accuracy of the Gregorian reformation of the calendar, to produce a tool to predict Easter exactly, and to give Rome a meridian line as important as the one Giovanni Domenico Cassini had recently built in Bologna's cathedral, San Petronio. -
Maggi R.
We were looking for the entrance to the Baths of Diocletian and thought you entered thru the church. We have visited this church many times and are always in awe of what it has to offer its visitors. It really does not look like a church at all. It has a ruined, plain façade, but wait until you see the inside! It is actually built inside the ruined frigidarium of the Roman Baths of Diocletian in the Piazza della Repubblica. Guess who had a hand in the original design - none other than Michelangelo Buonarotti. The church is huge and is beautifully decorated with frescoes on its walls and enormous marble columns. Don't miss the meridian solar line built by the astronomer and philosopher Francesco Bianchini in 1703. The church also boasts an impressive organ with 5400 tubes. If you are lucky to hear it, you will be mesmerized. This church should not be missed.
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Kevin W.
Great free admission church located in the Piazza della Repubblica.
This church was built in what used to be the Baths of Diocletian, the largest of the baths in Italy. The bath house architecture entrance is why the church does not look like a typical church from the outside.
They have rules and a dress code when you enter. Make sure to be respectful .
Not the most popular church in Rome but worth a visit if you are in the area. -
Chris F.
We came upon this basilica during our walking tour of Rome and it didn't seem like too much from the outside of the building. We decided to take a look inside as there was a large dome seen above as you enter. It was quite ornate and then we could see a larger area deeper inside. We moved further into the basilica and found a massive arena size structure where the alter area was located. There were 2 smaller domes on each side with smaller alters too. We were amazed by the size and then read it is the second largest basilica in Rome right behind St. Peters in size. It is located on Piazza della Repubblica. We recommend a visit.
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Alyssa R.
Santa Maria's was the first basilica we saw on our trip to Roma and it was an amazing way to start off our tour. The outside of the building isn't much to look at. Inside, however, is unbelievable. The vaulted ceilings, the tiled floors, the marble. Oh the marble! Such a beautiful building.
A couple other things:
- Free admission to visit.
- OK to take photos inside.