The church of Santa Maria in Trastevere is said to be one of the oldest Christian churches in Rome. Founded in the 3rd century by Pope Callixtus I, the 22 columns along its nave were taken from preexisting Roman buildings, likely the Baths of Caracalla. Before it was a church, the site was a hospice for Roman soldiers called the Taberna Meritoria.

In 38 BCE, it is said that a spring of black oil suddenly gushed from the ground, which early Christians would later interpret as a sign that Jesus was going to be born. The spot where this occurred in the church is labeled with an inscription of fons olei just under the altar. This fons olei was likely the result of a broken aqueduct used for the performance of naumachia (naval battles) that took place in an artificial basin built by Augustus.

Reconstruction of the church was carried out in the 12th century, giving us the glittering mosaic in the apse. In addition to serving as a gathering spot for tourists and church-goers alike, the Piazza di Santa Maria and the adjacent Piazza di San Calisto also have a bustling nightlife with murals and graffiti in the local Trastevere dialect, that serves as a gathering point for Romans and visitors alike.

Address: Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, 00153 Roma RM

The visiting hours are listed as:

7:30am-8:30pm

Please be mindful of active mass.