The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the "Seven Churches", i.e. one of the Seven Papal Basilicas that pilgrims coming to Rome must visit to complete their pilgrimage. This church is the first one dedicated to the worship of the Virgin Mary, and dates back to the 5th Century A.D.
The legend has it that the site for the construction was chosen by God himself. In the year 431 the Council of Efes decreed the divine maternity of Mary, so the reigning Pope of that time, Liberius, decided to build a Basilica in Her honor, with the financial help of the Roman patrician Johannes, whose daughter, some sources refer, was very ill and healed by a miracle.
With the Papal Decree, and the financial support, the Basilica was ready to be built, but Pope Liberius still did not know where to start the construction, so God came to his help with a miracle: in the morning of August 5th of the year 432 an absolutely unusual snowfall capped the top of the Exquilinus hill, and this was the signal for Pope Liberius to start the construction of his Basilica, on an area that in the past was a market ("Macellum liviae"). These events gave the Basilica the two other names of "Basilica of St. Mary of the Snow" and "Basilica Liberiana".
This event is celebrated every August 5th throwing down white flower petals (mainly roses) from the top of the Basilica's façade. In more recent years, the celebration was integrated by laser projections on the Basilica itself, making it a really sparkling and unusual night scenery out of one of Rome's most classic views.
Related topic link: http://viewsofrome.blogspot.com/2011/12/santa-maria-maggiore-2-worlds-most.html
Santa Maria Maggiore e Roma (Italian Edition)
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