Santa Maria in Aracoeli in Rome: the 124 Steps, the Santo Bambino and Pinturicchio's Frescoes

Updated on October 5, 2026

The church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli crowns the northern summit of the Capitoline Hill, above Piazza Venezia. You climb to it by a staircase of 124 steps, built in 1348 in thanks for the end of a plague, or, if you would rather avoid the effort, by Michelangelo's ramp leading to the neighbouring Capitoline Square. The church is free: people come for its nave of ancient columns, Pinturicchio's frescoes and the venerated statue of the Santo Bambino. Allow 30 to 45 minutes.

Highlights

The staircase

The 124 marble steps, which legend says were inaugurated by the tribune Cola di Rienzo in 1348, start from Via del Teatro di Marcello, near the Victor Emmanuel II monument. The plain brick façade gives no hint of the interior.

The nave and its ceiling

Three aisles separated by reused ancient columns, all different, a Cosmatesque floor and a gilded coffered ceiling, given to commemorate the victory of Lepanto in 1571.

Pinturicchio's frescoes

In the Bufalini Chapel, to the right of the entrance, Pinturicchio painted the stories of St Bernardino of Siena around 1484–1486, one of the brightest Renaissance cycles in Rome.

The Santo Bambino

This olive-wood statue, which tradition says was carved from a tree in the Garden of Gethsemane, is venerated by Romans, who write letters to it. The original was stolen in 1994: the statue on display today is a copy.

The legend of the Ara Coeli

According to medieval tradition, the Tiburtine Sibyl foretold to Augustus the birth of a child greater than himself, hence the name "altar of heaven". The church stands on the site of the ancient citadel of the Capitoline.

Opening hours and prices

Free entry. May to September, 9am–6:30pm; October to April, 9:30am–5:30pm. Hours may vary during services.

Practical info

Tips

Flat shoes are advisable for the staircase, which is slippery when it rains. The visit naturally continues at the neighbouring Vittoriano and the Capitoline Museums. Modest dress (shoulders and knees covered) is required. See also our selection of churches to visit for free. Hours checked in October 2026: verify them before you go.

How to get there

Scala dell'Arcicapitolina, 00186 Rome (staircase at the foot of the Capitoline, Via del Teatro di Marcello, near Piazza Venezia). Buses 40, 64, 70, 170 and tram 8, Piazza Venezia stops. Colosseo metro (line B), about 15 minutes on foot.