Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Santa Maria della Neve

A church in the village of Quarantoli, now part of the town Mirandola, is known already since the 9th century. On the initiative of Matilda of Canossa (aka "Matilda of Tuscany") the red-brick-church of today was built on the foundation of the predecessing in the early 12th century. An inscription tells, that it was consecrated in November 1114. The church survived the times, but got severely damaged in May 2012, when two major earthquakes hit Northern Italy. The epicenters of the two quakes were only 10 - 20kms away. Since then the church hidden is in scaffoldings, just to hold the structure. Renovations or rebuildings had not started in 2015.

Santa Maria Maggiore was erected under Pope Sixtus III (432–440) and retains the core of its original structure, despite several alterations, redecorations and additions, especially after the earthquake of 1348 had damaged the basilica. The apse and the transept arms date to the 13th century. Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the first churches built in honour of the Virgin Mary. The building started just after Council of Ephesus (431), which proclaimed Mary Mother of God. It is one of the four Papal Basilicas and one of the seven Pilgrim Churches in Rome. The large mosaic of the apse depicts the "Coronation of the Virgin".

Santa Maria Maggiore was erected under Pope Sixtus III (432–440) and retains the core of its original structure, despite several alterations, redecorations and additions, especially after the earthquake of 1348 had damaged the basilica. The apse and the transept arms date to the 13th century. Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the first churches built in honour of the Virgin Mary. The building started just after Council of Ephesus (431), which proclaimed Mary Mother of God. It is one of the four Papal Basilicas and one of the seven Pilgrim Churches in Rome. The 36 white marble columns supporting the nave came probably from an antique Roman temple. Above them are 36 mosaics dated to the 5th century. The floor has a "cosmatesque" mosaics from around 1150. The style goes back to the Roman family Cosmati, the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations. On display in the the Borghese Chapel of the Basilica is the "Salus Populi Romani", a venerated image of the Virgin. The Byzantine icon of the Madonna and Child, is possibly originally of the 5th century.

Santa Maria Maggiore was erected under Pope Sixtus III (432–440) and retains the core of its original structure, despite several alterations, redecorations and additions, especially after the earthquake of 1348 had damaged the basilica. The apse and the transept arms date to the 13th century. Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the first churches built in honour of the Virgin Mary. The building started just after Council of Ephesus (431), which proclaimed Mary Mother of God. It is one of the four Papal Basilicas and one of the seven Pilgrim Churches in Rome. The 36 white marble columns supporting the nave came probably from an antique Roman temple. Above them are 36 mosaics dated to the 5th century. The floor has a "cosmatesque" mosaics from around 1150. The style goes back to the Roman family Cosmati, the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations.