Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest Roman Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy. The famous painting 'Salus Populi Romani', is the oldest Marian image in Rome. It has been a favourite of several popes and acted as a key Mariological symbol. The mosaics of the nave in Santa Maria Maggiore were the definition of impressionistic art during the time period, and it influenced many pavement mosaics across villas in Africa, Syria and Sicily during the 5th century.