Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo
Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo
4.5
About
This Renaissance church contains Baroque additions along with various 18th- and 19th-century monuments, which add to the beauty of this structure.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Centro
How to get there
- Flaminio - Piazza del Popolo • 2 min walk
- Spagna • 10 min walk
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Restaurants
7,200 within 3 miles
Attractions
2,486 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,369 reviews
Excellent
902
Very good
394
Average
55
Poor
6
Terrible
12
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Malgorzata
12,083 contributions
May 2019
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo is a place not to be missed due to its location on the magnificent Piazza del Popolo and also due of the huge works of art of high value that are present there. The church comes from a small chapel from the 11th century, built at the expense of the Roman people, from which the name comes. Then it was completely rebuilt in the 15th century . In the mid-seventeenth century, Gianlorenzo Bernini gave it a distinct Baroque impression. The interior has the shape of a basilica with three naves, a transept and a semicircular apse, with four side chapels on each side and two important chapels on the left side of the main altar. Inside the church you can find a lot of works of art, primarily at the Cerasi Chapel the works of two fundamental painters of contemporary artistic history, Annibale Caracci with the painting of the altar of the "Assumption of the Virgin", and on the sides two wonderful paintings of Caravaggio, "Crucifixion of Saint Peter" and "Conversion of Saint Paul ". It is such a beautiful church. Definitely worth a visit.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deirdre_dines
Dublin, Ireland1,005 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
Basilica di Santa Maria del popolo
This is a wonderful church worth seeking out ( featured in the tv programme Rome unpacked ) - there’s lots of wonderful art but you need to know where to look.
Bernini Raphael and Caravaggio are all represented here- check your guide book ahead of arrival to know where to look and where to turn on the lights needed to see certain pieces. ( bring coins!)
Note :,the church is beside the da Vinci museum.
This is a wonderful church worth seeking out ( featured in the tv programme Rome unpacked ) - there’s lots of wonderful art but you need to know where to look.
Bernini Raphael and Caravaggio are all represented here- check your guide book ahead of arrival to know where to look and where to turn on the lights needed to see certain pieces. ( bring coins!)
Note :,the church is beside the da Vinci museum.
Written January 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
San Diego, California540 contributions
Jul 2021
There are five chapels along each side of the nave, and two chapels on each side of the altar. The highlights for me were the Lady of the People at the main altar and the Cerasi Chapel. The Cerasi Chapel is just left of the main altar and is decorated with the Assumption of the Virgin and two Caravaggio masterpieces, Crucifixion of Saint Peter and the Conversion of Saint Paul. The realism and colors are amazing.
The church is a 20-minute walk from Piazza Navona or 30-minute walk from Saint Peter’s Basilica.
The church is a 20-minute walk from Piazza Navona or 30-minute walk from Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Written September 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steveage
Rexburg, ID3,129 contributions
Jul 2019
The site of this current church, which was built between 1472-1477, was the exact site where emperor Nero was buried. Early in the 11th century a pope had Nero’s body exhumed and burned the remains. This basilica is a who’s who of amazing artists’ works – right in here – for free! Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, Pinturicchio… enjoy!
Written April 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gringottsgoblin
dublin558 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
The setting of this church in the Piazza del Populo is wonderful. It’s a beautiful space and the church tucks neatly into a corner. The outside belies that stunning interior studded with artworks of some of the most famous artists and If that had been it I would have walked away happy. But by happenstance I went in on a Sunday at 11 and there was mass being celebrated which I decided to attend. OMG what a brilliant decision. Most people skulk out when mass is on but as a Catholic I don’t feel I need to. What I did not know and suddenly became acutely aware of was that an amazing organist was playing accompanied by a highly gifted mezzo-soprano. The singing and music were simply sublime and actually moved me so much it brought tears to my eyes, the sound being so beautiful. Truly astonishing experience that happened by chance. What luck. What a memory
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter C
Island of Malta, Malta3,167 contributions
Jul 2022
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo is located in Piazza del Popolo from where it takes its name. The church houses numerous works of art including the two masterpieces by Caravaggio in the Cerasi Chapel and Bernini marble sculptues in the Chigi Chapel, amongst many others. Truly magnificent!
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
clh333
Norwich, UK172 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
We were really keen to visit and went twice, assuming we’d missed the opening hours the first time. The helpful staff in the Leonardo museum next door told us it was closed for renovations until November. There was no sign up and this wasn’t shown on any websites I used to check opening. Posting this so others don’t have a wasted trip
Written April 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah L
London, UK3,585 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Even entering this church in the middle of the day you can get eerie vibes. It is beautiful though and centrally located in Piazza del Popolo. Made famous especially by Angels and Demons as the 'Earth' church and containing works of famous artists, including Bernini.
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,666 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Surprisingly there are 3 churches all called Santa Maria in Piazza del Popolo. Confusion is inevitable. Even a few of the photos attached to reviews below show the wrong church.
The easiest way to spot it is to stand in the middle of the piazza, walk towards the large gateway, and the white facade of the church will be on your right.
The other difficulty in visiting this church is that it’s closed for a big chunk of time in the middle of the day. On weekdays, it closes between 12 - 4pm (weekends are a little different).
I should’ve checked before visiting but didn’t. As a result I missed out which is really disappointing because everything you want to see here is on the inside.
The facade is rather plain. Certainly its not exceptional. However inside are paintings by Raphael and Carravaggio and works by the Baroque genius, Bernini, who was so in demand that he received commissions from 8 different popes.
Note: The website says that it’s currently temporarily closed to all visitors and is undergoing restoration work. It will re-open November 2024. Perhaps the hours may change after this date but its definitely worth checking before visiting.
The easiest way to spot it is to stand in the middle of the piazza, walk towards the large gateway, and the white facade of the church will be on your right.
The other difficulty in visiting this church is that it’s closed for a big chunk of time in the middle of the day. On weekdays, it closes between 12 - 4pm (weekends are a little different).
I should’ve checked before visiting but didn’t. As a result I missed out which is really disappointing because everything you want to see here is on the inside.
The facade is rather plain. Certainly its not exceptional. However inside are paintings by Raphael and Carravaggio and works by the Baroque genius, Bernini, who was so in demand that he received commissions from 8 different popes.
Note: The website says that it’s currently temporarily closed to all visitors and is undergoing restoration work. It will re-open November 2024. Perhaps the hours may change after this date but its definitely worth checking before visiting.
Written May 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francesco M
Sicily, Italy442 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
It stands in Piazza del Popolo, built around 1000 AD, and contains works of art ranging from the 15th to the 19th century. Among these, the paintings of Caravaggio stand out. (the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul).
Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does anyone know if the church has reopened yet? Thanks! (Written on 4 December 2024)
Written December 4, 2024
Hello - I am visiting Rome the week after Easter. Is Santa Maria del Popolo closed for renovation? I had hoped to see the Caravaggio paintings. Thanks for any information you can provide.
Written January 16, 2024
I went in February but I would think so. Check the website, which is linked from the trip advisor page. There will be masses you will need to schedule around.
Written September 7, 2018
Buongiorno a tutti, vorrei sapere la situazione impalcature su questa basilica
Written March 28, 2018
Mi sembra che attualmente non ci siano impalcature.
Written April 9, 2018
Bonjour l église était fermée hier après midi a priori pour travaux ????
Written February 12, 2018
Bonjour je ne peux répondre à cette question car les travaux des églises dans Rome sont très divers et à des moments différents. Cordialement J-M
Written February 14, 2018
SS. Messe Domenica e Festivi ore 8-10-11-12-13-18,30
giorni feriali  ore 8-10-18,30
Ss. Messe LUGLIO-AGOSTO: Domenica e Festivi ore 8-10-11-12-18,30
Feriali  ore 8-18,30
Apertura-opening:
giorni feriali 7,15-12,30 / 16-19
Venerdì-sabato: 7,30-19
Festivi 7,30-13,30 / 16,30-19,30
Le visite sono interdette durante le celebrazioni
no visit during servicies
Written April 1, 2017
Salve! Volevo chiedere sull'orario di apertura della chiesa di domenica, i siti online mi confondono! Quando è possibile visitarla?
Written February 28, 2017
Buonasera, un consiglio spassionato: se siete interessati a Caravaggio evitate il sabato e la domenica.
Written March 1, 2017
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