Santa Maria in Ara Coeli

Santa Maria in Ara Coeli is a medieval church perched on the highest point of the Capitoline Hill, adjacent to the Piazza del Campidoglio. Its name means 'Saint Mary of the Altar of Heaven,' referencing a legend that the church was built on the site where the Tiburtine Sibyl prophesied the birth of Christ to Emperor Augustus. The church's exterior is simple, but the interior is a treasure trove of art and history. The nave is lined with 22 ancient columns, each recycled from Roman ruins, and the ceiling is adorned with gilded coffers. The church is most famous for the Santo Bambino, a wooden figure of the Christ Child carved from olive wood from the Garden of Gethsemane, which is said to have miraculous powers. The church also contains frescoes by Pinturicchio and the tomb of the medieval political theorist Cola di Rienzo. Visitors often climb the steep 124-step staircase from the Piazza d'Aracoeli to reach the church, a pilgrimage-like ascent that rewards with a sense of history and spirituality.

Don't miss

• The Santo Bambino (Holy Child) icon in its chapel
• The 22 ancient Roman columns lining the nave
• Frescoes by Pinturicchio in the Cappella Bufalini
• The tomb of Cola di Rienzo, a 14th-century Roman tribune
• The 124-step staircase offering views of the city

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Santa Maria in Ara Coeli

Cheapest way inBasilica Santa Maria Maggiore : Guided Tour or Audio Guide4.2★ · 10 travelers1–2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$23 per personSee dates →Most bookedRome Catacombs Night Tour with Santa Maria Maggiore After Hours4.9★ · 119 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$243 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleSanta Maria Novella: the Church, the Pharmacy, the Museum4.8★ · 10 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$249 per personSee dates →