Jubilee Church

"Tell me: What’s this place all about?Chiesa di Dio Padre Misericordioso, also known as the Jubilee Church, was designed by American architect Richard Meier as part of the Vatican's grand church-building and city revival program leading up to the Millennium Jubilee, a Catholic pilgrimage year held in 2000. The church is free, though getting there may cost you. It's about six miles from central Rome, so a taxi could easily cost more than €25 ($28). Alternatively, you can reach the church via public transport for €3.00 round trip. Wow. What’s it like being there?The building is all about light, which streams into the structure's white volumes through strategically placed windows. The light is always changing and the atmosphere of the church changes right along with it, from gleaming and lively to dim and gloomy. Pretty interesting! Is there a guide involved?No guide. You just walk in and look around. More often than not, the place is virtually empty. Who comes here?Aside from the parishioners from the surrounding Tor Tre Teste residential district, only hardcore modern and contemporary architecture fans make the trek. Did it meet expectations?When the church was being built, it was praised as a potential game-changer for a depressed neighborhood and posited as the catalyst for urban renewal. That hope hasn't exactly panned out and the outdoor white concrete "sails" have mellowed from gleaming white to a kind of dull grey. The interior, on the other hand, is clean and pristine white. The way Meier designed the walls creates shadow and shade, allowing white to transform as light moves across the surfaces of the walls. Got it. So, then, what, or who, do you think it’s best for?It takes over an hour to get to and from the church from central Rome, so a visit is no good for someone on a tight schedule. Modern architecture lovers will find the place immensely interesting, as will people who have visited Rome many times and are eager to get outside the center to see neighborhoods where the majority of Rome-dwellers live." - Katie Parla