Santa Maria in Aracoeli

Santa Maria in Aracoeli is somewhat hidden, next to the Vittorio Emmanuelle Monument. A vast staircase leads uphill to the temple, which is nothing less than the Capitoline. The church is famous for a XV century wood carving of the infant Jesus (Santo Bambino), the olive wood was from the Garden of Gethsemane and a valuable votive cover. Many people of Rome believed in the power of this statue that was stolen in February 1994 and never recovered. There's now a copy in its own chapel by the sacristy. On Christmas Eve the image takes a throne before the high altar and the veil is removed in the Gloria.