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Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Rome
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Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Rome

Hold on, gotta catch my breath. - Rome
Hold on, gotta catch my breath.
by american_tourister
Santa Maria in Aracoeli tips and photos posted by real travelers and Rome locals.

Piazza del Campidoglio
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Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Santa Maria in Aracoeli
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  • Callavetta
  • By Callavetta on April 20, 2004
  • Rome Page by Callavetta
  • The interior of Santa Maria in Aracoeli - Rome
    The interior of Santa Maria in
    Aracoeli
    by Callavetta
    Before descending into the Forum, take a peek at Stant Maria in Aracoeli. There is a hard way to get into the Church and a "less hard way". (Either way, you gotta climb some stairs!) From Via del Teatro di Marcello, you can climb the 124 steep stairs to the front door of the stairs. Alternately, walk up the Cordonata, leading to the Capitoline, and catch your breath while you walk across the Campidoglio to the back of Palazzo Nuovo. There you will find a second set of stairs that take you to a side door of the church.

    Considering the very stark facade of this 700 year old church, the interior is very very ornate. The 22 stone colonades are said to have been taken from various ancient buildings.

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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli
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  • By Ailis on January 16, 2006
  • Rome Page by Ailis
  • Santa Maria in Aracoeli - Rome
    by Ailis, 1 more photos
    A 4th century legend in two versions claims that the Blessed Virgin appeared to the emperor Augustus at this site, on the northern side of the Capitol hill or alternatively that the birth of the Son of God was foretold to the emperor by an oracle here. The stairs leading up to the church are impressing - 124 wide steps steeply ascending the Capitol hill. One of the most interesting things you will find inside is a copy of the statue of Santo Bambino (the 15th century original was made from olive wood from the Garden of Gethsemane), that worked miracles down through the ages and has been known to bring about inexplicable cures. The church gets many letters addressed to the Holy Child, and these are placed before the statue unopened.

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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Santa Maria in Ara
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  • paradisedreamer
  • By paradisedreamer on May 23, 2003
  • Rome Page by paradisedreamer
  • Santa Maria in Aracoeli - Rome
    by paradisedreamer
    Santa Maria in Aracoeli, built on the site of the ancient Roman capital, precisely where the ruins of a temple to Juno Moneta are. The temple was transformed into a church dedicated to the Madonna for a pagan goddess.
    According to legend, the Emperor Augustus had a vision of the Virgin standing on an altar in a dazzling light and holding the baby Jesus in her arms. He heard a voice which said: ‘This is the altar of the Son of God’. The Emperor had an altar built on the site, the Ara Coeli (altar of the heavens). Be prepared there are a lot of stairs to the church!
    .

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  • Directions: Next to the Campidoglio
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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Santa Maria in Aracoeli
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  • mrclay2000
  • Updated By mrclay2000 on January 16, 2003
  • Rome Page by mrclay2000
  • Santa Maria in Aracoeli - Rome
    Santa Maria in Aracoeli
    by mrclay2000
    This is probably the gaudiest church in Rome. Built in its present form by the end of the 16th century, you can either ascend the 124 steps leading to its portico, or use the Cordonata and sneak around. Inside the prevailing colors are blue, and if you can overlook the regiment of chandeliers on the ceiling, you might come away thinking this just an overdone Italian church.

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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Santa Maria in Ara Coeli
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  • Sarita76
  • Updated By Sarita76 on October 20, 2006
  • Rome Page by Sarita76
  • Santa Maria in Ara Coeli - Rome
    Santa Maria in Ara Coeli
    by Sarita76
    Start climbing those 124 steps...
    Santa Maria in Aracoeli was built on the site of the ancient Roman capital.
    It was once a temple for a pagan goddess and then transformed into a church dedicated to the Madonna.
    According to a legend, the Emperor Augustus consulted the Tiburtine Sibyl. While she was speaking, the Emperor had a vision: the Virgin was standing on an altar holding the baby Jesus in her arms. Augustsus heard a voice saying: "This is the altar of the Son of God." So the Emperor raised an altar on that place, the Ara Coeli, meaning altar of the heavens.

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  • Directions: Next to the Campidoglio and to the Altare della Patria.
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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Santa Maria in Aracoeli
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  • Julius_Caesar
  • By Julius_Caesar on February 9, 2005
  • Rome Page by Julius_Caesar
  • Santa Maria in Aracoeli - Rome
    by Julius_Caesar
    This church dates from the 6th century A.D., and it stands on the northern summit of the Capitoline, on the site of the ancient temple of Juno. The church of the Roman senators and people, Santa Maria in Aracoeli has been used to celebrate many triumphs over adversity. Its ceiling commemorates the Battle of Lepanto (1571), and was built under Pope Gregory XIII Boncompagni, whose family crest, the dragon, can be seen towards the altar end. Look out for Pinturicchio’s magnificent frescoes in the first chapel on the right. Beautiful frescoes are also on the walls of the central nave, alternated with the windows.

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  • Directions: On the left of the Capitoline hill
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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Our Lady of the Altar of Heaven
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  • von.otter
  • Updated By von.otter on November 30, 2007
  • Rome Page by von.otter
  • Steps to Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Roam, Dec. 2000 - Rome
    Steps to Santa Maria in
    Aracoeli, Roam, Dec. 2000
    by von.otter,
    2 more photos
    “The grandest loafing place of mankind”
    — Henry James (1843-1916) his assessment of the 137 steps leading to Santa Maria in Aracoeli

    Because it sits on the highest summit of the Capitoline Hill this basilica-styled church was first called Santa Maria in Capitolo. By the 14th century, the Church of the Italian Senate and the Roman people (Senatus Populusque Romanus), had been renamed Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Our Lady of the Altar of Heaven).

    A Byzantine abbey, dating from as early as AD 574, forms the foundation of the church. By the 9th century the church had been given to the Benedictines, then by order of the pope to the Franciscans, who operate it today. During the Middle Ages this church was the center of Rome’s religious and civil community. Condemned criminals met their end at the foot of the church’s steps during that period.

    Today's stark façade contrasts to the rich mosaics, and later frescoes, that originally decorated it. The relics of Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, are housed here; and Pope Honorius IV is buried in the church.

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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli
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  • croisbeauty
  • Updated By croisbeauty on July 4, 2007
  • Rome Page by croisbeauty
  • Santa Maria in Aracoeli - Rome
    Santa Maria in Aracoeli
    by croisbeauty, 4 more photos
    Let me be honest and say it, I was just to tired and lazy to climb up by this stairs because from the bottom it looks miles away.

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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Climb the Arcoeli Staircase
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  • no1birdlady
  • By no1birdlady on September 6, 2005
  • Rome Page by no1birdlady
  • Arcoeli Staircase - Rome
    Arcoeli Staircase
    by no1birdlady
    Santa Maria in Aercoli is at the top of the Aracoeli Staricase. These 124 marble steps were completed in 1348 to prepare for the Holy Year when pilgrims came to Rome. Many pilgrims go up these stairs on their knees as a sign of pennance.

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  • Directions: Located on the northern summit of Capitoline Hill, just down from the Piazza.
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    Santa Maria in Aracoeli: Aracoeli Steps
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  • american_tourister
  • By american_tourister on July 17, 2003
  • Rome Page by american_tourister
  • Hold on, gotta catch my breath. - Rome
    Hold on, gotta catch my
    breath.
    by american_tourister
    A long, long climb up steps placed in a severe angle. Tne payoff is that you get to enter a fabulous church located in a remarkable setting. It is worth the climb just to look at the faces of other out of shape tourists as they clinb up while you go down.

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  • Directions: Located at the Capitolene Museum area in the Capitol behind the Victor Emmanuel Monument.
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