Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli

Perched atop the Capitoline Hill, this medieval basilica is reached by a steep staircase of 124 marble steps built in the fourteenth century as a votive offering. The church stands on the reputed site of an ancient temple, and its interior reuses columns salvaged from earlier Roman buildings. Frescoes by Pinturicchio decorate a side chapel, and the basilica is famous for the Santo Bambino, a revered wooden figure carried through the city in past centuries. The elevated location also offers views across the surrounding piazzas and rooftops.