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VIP After-hours Tour of Santa Maria Maggiore with Private Option

5.0 (27 reviews)
1 hour
From $128
USD per person (€109)
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Duration: 1 hour
Shared tour
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About This Tour

Experience an exclusive after-hours journey through Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome's cherished papal basilicas. Enjoy rare access to areas typically closed to the public, including Bernini's spiral staircase, the Loggia with shimmering golden mosaics, the Hall of the Popes, and rooftop terraces offering panoramic views of Rome's skyline and the basilica's towering 275-foot bell tower.

Inside, discover the sacred Holy Door, the revered Manger relics in a crystal reliquary beneath the altar, papal tombs, and a gilded ceiling crafted with gold from the New World. Admire breathtaking mosaics from the 5th and 14th centuries, portraying Mary as Queen of Heaven.

This intimate tour provides a rare opportunity to explore one of Rome's most iconic churches, free from crowds and illuminated in serene, nighttime splendor.

What's Included

✓ Included

  • Bernini’s Tomb
  • Mosaics and Ceiling
  • Exclusive Small Group of 6 people
  • Loggia Mosaics
  • Special Access after public closure
  • Highlights of the Basilica
  • Hall of the Popes
  • Relics of the Manger and Saint Jerome
  • Sistine Chapel
  • Bernini’s Staircase
  • Rooftop Terraces
  • Paulina Bonaparte’s Tomb
  • Top rated Expert Guide
  • Icon of the Salus Populi Romani
  • Borghese Chapel

Itinerary

1
Stop
Loggia Mosaics
Hall of the Popes
Rooftop Terraces
Bernini’s Staircase
Icon of the Salus Populi Romani
Paulina Bonaparte’s Tomb
Bernini’s Tomb
Relics of the Manger and Saint Jerome

Tour Options

This tour is available in multiple formats. Choose your preferred option when booking:

Private Tour UPGRADE

Private Tour: An expert guide for your group only

Semi-Private Option

Select your preferred option on the booking page. Prices may vary by option.

Good to Know

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • 🚌 Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • 💪 Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • The tour is wheelchair accessible, but not for all places during the tour. There is an elevator to the Loggia level but nothing to the Terrace level. There is partial accessibility—a person in a wheelchair could visit the Basilica main level, the Loggia, and the Room of the Popes but could not access the terrace level at all. They would experience the "alone" feeling of the Basilica but would have to wait while the rest of the tour went to the terrace level.
  • Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
  • Please note: For safety reasons, children under 7 years old are not permitted on the terraces, and therefore, we are unable to accept bookings for guests with children under 7 years old. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
  • The minimum number required is 2 travelers.
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