| Santa Maria sopra Minerva tips and photos posted by real travelers and Rome locals. • 49 Photos
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Tourists are drawn here primarily to view Michelangelo's powerful Christ with the Cross marble statue (detail in next tip) standing to the left of the main alter.
Behind this simple façade bearing the coat of arms of Pius V you will find one of the most interesting churches of Rome including exceptional works from the end of the 13th centur to the 19th century, when the building underwent a radical restoration. The Aldobrandini Chapel is home to Bernini's Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Italy and a superb cycle of frescoes by Filippino Lippi are vivid.
Photo 1 - Five Pontiffs are buried here, including Paulus IV whose coat of arms you can see only in this church, because when he died the Romans destroyed all signs of his pontificate. Works of Bernini are in abundance here - the Monument to Giovanni Vigevano is a very early work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The academic structure of the bust is broken by the hand which adds energy to the determined look of the represented character.
Photo 2 -The organ over the portal is stunning and not to be missed - most likely, I would not have looked up as I approached the exit had I not caught the upward gaze of a few others.
Photo 3 - A later work by Bernini - the marble "drapery" funeral monument to Sister Maria Raggi is a stunning match between polychroma marble and metal items sparkling with gold gilding.
As part of the Monument to Cardinal Pimentel you will see Charity by Antonio Raggi of Como, who worked for Bernini. He is regarded as the best follower of Bernini's style Address: Piazza MinervaDirections: southeast of the Pantheon - look for the elephant supporting the little oblisk
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Three views of Michelangelo's Christ and the Cross to the left of the center alter in Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (next tip). This statue was originally carved as a nude and the gold drape was added later. Address: Church Santa Maria Sopra MinervaDirections: Piazza Minerva
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 The Elefantino and Sta
Maria by melissa_belLeave a Comment Address: Piazza della MinervaDirections: southeast of the Pantheon
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 The elephant as a basis of the
obelisk. by chiara76
In the front of the church there is the old obelisk and the basis of it was designed by Bernini. The elephant as a basis symbolizes the real Christian Wisdom as a elephant is a symbol of the intelligence and faithfulness. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza della MinervaDirections: southeast of the Pantheon
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 Egyptian Obelisk by rexvaughanLeave a Comment Address: Piazza della MinervaDirections: southeast of the Pantheon
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 by Julius_CaesarLeave a Comment Directions: Piazza della Minerva, halfway between the Pantheon and the Gesù church
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 Interior of Santa Maria
Sopra Minerva by martin_nlLeave a Comment Address: Piazza della Minerva 42Phone: 06-6793926Directions: Southeast of the Pantheon.
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Right behind the Pantheon you will come across the church of Santa Maria Sopra MInerva. It is a 13th century church supposedly built on the ancient ruins of the Temple of Minerva.The facade is rather unadorned, but wait till you step inside!! Among the beautiful statues you will find the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena on the main altar. The painter Fra Angelico is also buried here, along with other famous Italians. Also if you are noting all the obelisks in Rome, you will like the one in front of the church, which is of an elephant supporting an Egyptian obelisk. A must see! Leave a Comment Directions: southeast of the Pantheon
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 Facade and Pulcino by jungles
The name means 'St. Mary on top of Minerva,' because like many churches it was built on top of an ancient pagan temple, this one dedicated to the goddess Minerva. St. Catherine of Siena died in the adjacent convent and is buried here (except for her head which is in Siena); there is a reclining statue of her that adorns her tomb just underneath the main altar. One of Michelangelo's sculptures, Christ the Redeemer, is also here to your left as you face the altar. This is not one of his more highly regarded works; it was rather poorly completed by one of his students, and the bronze sash was added later to cover Christ's indecent exposure.
Open all day from 8am to 7pm; visits not permitted during mass. The official website is only in Italian but has lots of pictures for those who don't speak Italian. Directions: When facing the Pantheon, take the road that runs along the left side of it. The church will be on your left near the back of the Pantheon.Website: http://www.basilicaminerva.it/home.htm Other Contact: Giovanni.Monti@agora.it
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 Elephant carrying obelisk by jungles
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