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Basilica of San ClementevsBasilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Both are recommended by professional reviewers. On balance, Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano scores slightly better than Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano scores 93 with recommendations from 8 reviewers including Frommer's, Fodor's and Michelin Guide.
Basilica of San Clemente
Fodor's
Lonely Planet
Time Out
Frommer's
Afar Magazine
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Atlas Obscura Atlas Obscura
U.S. News & World Report Show All Reviews
Via di San Giovanni in Laterano, 00184 Rome
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Fodor's "One of the most impressive archaeological sites in Rome, San Clemente is a historical triple-decker." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"A 12th-century basilica built over a 4th-century church, which stands over a 2nd-century pagan temple and 1st-century Roman house." Full review
Time Out "A favourite with kids for its dungeon-like underground level, this 12th-century basilica is a three-dimensional Roman time-line." Full review
Frommer's "From the Colosseum, head up Via San Giovanni in Laterano to this basilica. It isn't just another Roman church -- far from it." Full review
Afar Magazine "In 1857, the prior of the Basilica San Clemente thought there might be something underneath his 12th-century church, already renowned for its relics and striking mosaic of the Crucifixion." Full review
Travel + Leisure "A multi-layered church and archaeological site, the Basilica of San Clemente is one of the best examples of how Rome is a layer cake of history." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"Founded in the 4C and dedicated to St Clement, this is one of Rome's earliest basilicas. Badly damaged in 1084 it was rebuilt, again on a basilical plan with three naves in the 12C." Full review
Atlas Obscura "A Nesting Doll of Churches. " Full review
Atlas Obscura "A rather vulgar example of the transition from Latin to the Italian vernacular. " Full review
U.S. News & World Report11.0
"Archaeology buffs might find the Basilica di San Clemente interesting as it's a veritable nesting doll of churches. It's a second century pagan temple, underneath a fourth-century church,..." Full review
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Fodor's Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Time Out Frommer's
Let's Go Michelin Guide Afar Magazine
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 00185 Rome
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Fodor's "Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the oldest churches in Rome, built around 440 by Pope Sixtus III." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"One of Rome's four patriarchal basilicas, Santa Maria was built on the summit of the Esquiline Hill in the 5th century." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Originally built in the fifth century, Santa Maria Maggiore contains one of the best preserved Byzantine interiors in Rome." Full review
Time Out "Behind this blowsy Baroque façade is one of the most striking basilica-form churches in Rome." Full review
Frommer's "This great church, one of Rome's four major basilicas, was built by Pope Liberius in A.D. 358 and was rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III from 432 to 440." Full review
Let's Go "Located just minutes away from Termini Station, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is an enormous basilica dedicated to everyone’s favorite virgin (no, not you)." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"Founded by Pope Sixtus III (432-440), this is one of Rome's four great basilicas, and has been remodelled many times down the centuries." Full review
Afar Magazine "Contains almost a millennia's worth of Italian architecture, from an 18th-century baroque exterior to the 5th-century mosaics lining its interior arch." Full review
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Be sure to see the relics of what is believed to be pieces of Jesus Christ's manger from the day he was born.
