Basilica of Saint Mary of Minerva

This basilica was in my list of things to see in Rome because of its beauty and the artwork it has. When I saw the simplicity of the facade, I immediately thought how many tourists must have walked right past it without knowing what’s inside. I was surprised to learn that this basilica is the only extant example of original gothic architecture in Rome - all the others have been remodelled in baroque style.

As so many churches in Rome which the facades are very simple, but the internal of the churches have so much beauty and history and this church is one of them. The colours and the architecture are exceptional. Located one street away from Parthenon is a must see.

Santa Maria sopra Minerva is a beautiful church just behind the Pantheon. From the outside, it looks pretty plain compared to other Roman churches, but inside it’s full of color and art. The ceiling is painted bright blue with gold stars, and there are many chapels and tombs. One highlight is Michelangelo’s statue of Christ holding the cross, near the main altar. You’ll also find the tomb of Saint Catherine of Siena and frescoes by Filippino Lippi. It feels peaceful inside even though it’s so close to the busy streets.

The basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva is a short walk from the Pantheon and is well worth visiting. It is an absolutely stunning Basilica inside and houses the tomb of Saint Catherine of Siena. Alongside many other beautiful sights, including a stunning statue of Mary, there is the wonderful Cristo della Minerva, representing Jesus Christ risen, sculpted by Michelangelo from a single block of marble. Such a beautiful place.

For several years, access to the aisles of the church has been prohibited, which is a great shame as Santa Maria Sopra Minerva boasts a number of beautiful private chapels. The church is the final resting place of St Catherine of Siena, the Florentine painter Fra Angelico, and Urban VII, the pope who holds the record for the shortest reign, a mere 13 days.

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, located near the Pantheon, is a must-visit church in Rome for its serene atmosphere and remarkable historical features. This tranquil spot provides a peaceful respite from the bustling streets of Rome. One of the highlights is the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena, which is a significant and moving site for many visitors. Additionally, the church houses a lesser-known treasure: a marble statue of the standing Jesus by Michelangelo. Surprisingly, this masterpiece is accompanied by only a small sign, making it easy to overlook. The church's understated beauty and historical significance make it a gem worth exploring. Highly recommended for a quiet and enriching visit.

This was a special one for me! St Catherine of Siena has a special place in my heart and in our family. Getting to see where her body was buried was pretty special. We also saw a little model of Jerusalem set up, that depicted the story of Jesus throughout the whole thing. That was really cool to see!

This church is located one block from the Pantheon. It has a Gothic architecture so, it changes from the Baroque style. Inside the church, you will find in particular a Michelangelo’s statue : “Cristian della Minerva” and also the tomb of Saint Catherine of Siena.

Absolutely must see if you're a fan of art and architecture. This spot is often overlooked because it's near the Pantheon. Not only does it have the famous elephant obelisk outside but inside it's amazing. It's the only church in Rome that's done in the gothic architecture style. Once inside, people often walk right past a genuine Michelangelo sculpture. Note- he did not cover Jesus up, that golden fabric looking part was later added due to the church wanting modesty.

We went here with a guide, and I'm so glad we did. The church was covered in tented scaffolding, so I'm not sure we'd have gone in on our own. Outside the church is an elephant by Bernini, holding an Egyptian obelisk. Inside the church is quite amazing- and huge. There is more Bernini work inside- especially sad is the piece commemorating a nun that was recently vandalized- a boss on the piece was stolen! You will see the hole where the missing work was. The Dominicans built this church- and right next to it, is a very small tall building where judgments of heretics were held during the inquisition. Galileo was forced to recant there. The church was finally completed by Juan de Torquemada- who was an uncle of Tomas de Torquemada the inquisitor. Michelangelo has a statue of Christ here- but one that was finished by his students (and which he tried to fix). The proportions are off. The first Christ he finished had a black vein across the cheek of Christ- so the sculptor was forced to make another, but this one was finished by this students and was inferior- in the end Michelangelo ended up doing a two for one deal- and giving both statues to the family- they'd been waiting 7 years, and they didn't want to wait longer for a perfect one. Don't miss the Fillipino Lippi frescos- you need to put a euro in to light them up- do it! The damage you see on this, and on the mosaic that was moved higher, are from flooding of the Tiber- before it was controlled.

Nearby the Pantheon, Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva is often ignored even in a heavily-populated tourist center because of its seemingly plain facade, but this church is a hidden gem full of both artistic and religious treasures! Loosely translated "Our Lady above Minerva", this church is built on top of the temple ruin that was mistakenly attributed to the Roman goddess Minerva, and is Rome's only Gothic-style church where almost all others were renovated to Baroque-style. Nonetheless, Santa Maria sopra Minerva's chapels are still filled with many colorful fresco by early Baroque masters that strike an interesting contrast to the Gothic interior. However, the prized art treasure of all is Michelangelo's "Cristo della Minerva" - Christ the Redeemer! Even though the Renaissance master had to rush this art commission, his sculpture is nonetheless remarkable. While it is nowhere near the fame of his David, Michelangelo's Christ the Redeemer is no less detailed in the physiology that is especially prominent in the similarly contrapposto position. Take your time to admire as this is a little known gem for now with no crowd fighting you or no barrier to distance you unlike Michelangelo's more famous works! One critic said that the Christ's knees are worth more than the whole Rome, so be the judge of that. If you are already in the Pantheon area, I highly recommend walking into Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva! While Rome has churches that are more beautiful, few can compare the treasures that this basilica holds. --- tl;dr version: 1) "Hidden gem" by the Pantheon 2) Only Gothic church in Rome, and contains many art and religious treasures 3) Get close to one of Michelangelo's masterpieces inside *P.S. For the religious, this basilica houses the remains of one of the Italy's two patron saints, St. Catherine of Siena, the pious nun who was behind the drive to bring back the papacy from France back to Rome! (Unfortunately or fortunately depending if you live in Siena or not, her head is in a separate place at Siena's cathedral)

A small church located near the Pantheon, it is easy to miss. The outside looks plain but once you enter it is really nice. Like many churches in Rome, the artwork is fantastic. It is worth a stop if your not burnt out visiting churches.

A few steps from the Pantheon, this church sits as the only Gothic church in all of Rome. Photos are permitted to be taken inside. Please mind dress code for a church, there is no entry fee. Otherwise, you will find yourself emerged in its beauty. It houses Michelango's Christ the Reedemer statue. Stand in the middle gold star, located on the floor, to take a panorama photo.