The story behind the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore creation is quite interesting. The pope of the the time, Pope Liberius, had a vision from the Virgin Mary that says where snow will fall, that is where to build the basilica. The story also gives the church its alternative names, “ The Liberian Basilica,” “Saint Mary of the Snow,” “Santa Maria Liberiana,” or “Sicinini Basilica”. There is a part of the church that has a an image of the the pope finding the snow. There are more cool things other than the story inside the basilica. The gold on the roof of the church is the same gold that Christopher Columbus stole from America. It is considered one of the four major Papal basilica. The other three are the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the St Peter's Basilica and the St Paul Outside the Walls.The other cool thing is in the center the basilica. In the middle is a piece of the manger that held baby Jesus. That is why another alternative name for the church is “St. Mary of the Nativity.” In front of the manger relic is a statue of Pope Pius IX. Next to the relic upstairs to the right is where the famous painter, Bernini, is buried.