Snow is pretty rare in Rome. And even rarer in August.

But every August, since Ancient Roman times, snow falls over at least one part of the city to reenact the Madonna della neve (Madonna of the snow) tradition.

Each August – to be precise, the 5 August –  the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major) witnesses an impromptu ‘snowstorm’.

The  staging of this particular snowstorm comes from a 4th century story from Ancient Roman times.

In 358 AD, a wealthy, patrician Roman, Giovanni, had a dream in which the Virgin Mary appears to him in a snowstorm at the spot where the basilica now stands, asking that a basilica be constructed there and dedicated to her. He speaks to Pope Liberio, who admits he had the same dream.

Pope Liberio decides to construct a basilica, financed by Giovanni, on the same spot, and thus was founded Santa…