Santa Maria sopra Minerva

Welcome to Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Sahn-tah Mah-ree-ah soh-prah Mee-nehr-vah), a church that holds a very special title: it is the only original Gothic church in the city of Rome. While Rome is famous for its grand Baroque and…

Before we enter the church, we must look at the delightful monument in the center of the piazza: 'Minerva's Chick' (Poo-chee-noh dee Mee-nehr-vah). This sculpture of a small elephant carrying an ancient Egyptian obelisk on its…

As you step inside, the immediate transition to the Gothic style is breath-taking. Unlike the golden, sun-drenched Baroque churches elsewhere in Rome, Santa Maria sopra Minerva greets you with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a…

To the left of the main altar stands one of the church's greatest treasures: Michelangelo’s (Mee-kel-ahn-jeh-loh) statue of 'Christ the Redeemer', also known as the 'Cristo della Minerva' (Krees-toh del-lah Mee-nehr-vah).…

We now move to the right transept to find the Carafa (Kah-rah-fah) Chapel, a jewel of late fifteenth-century Renaissance art. Commissioned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa and decorated by Filippino Lippi (Fee-leep-pee-noh Leep-pee)…

Beneath the high altar lies the final resting place of one of Italy’s most important figures: Saint Catherine of Siena. Catherine was a Dominican laywoman, a mystic, and a Doctor of the Church who played a pivotal role in…

Just a short distance from the main altar, we find the tomb of another legendary Dominican: Fra Angelico (Frah Ahn-jel-ee-koh). Born Guido di Pietro, he was a famous Renaissance painter and a friar whose works in Florence and the…

As we leave the hallowed halls of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Sahn-tah Mah-ree-ah soh-prah Mee-nehr-vah), carry with you the image of the blue starry vault and the serene strength of Michelangelo’s Christ. This church is a hidden…