With its history spanning thousands of years, and its artistic and cultural beauties of immense patrimonial value, Rome has always been one of the most fascinating cities in the world, as well as a destination for millions of tourists every year. Not only monuments and works of art, Rome is characterized by the presence of a religious heritage of enormous depth: with its churches and basilicas of inestimable value, ancient places of worship capable of leaving its visitors breathless. But what are the historical structures worth visiting in Rome? Among the noteworthy religious buildings is undoubtedly the basilica of Santa Maria sopra la Minerva, a historic structure located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Italian capital: Piazza Minerva, near the Pantheon. But what characterizes the beauty of this fascinating religious building?

The basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva: a Gothic structure of great beauty

The basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (translated from the Latin basilica "Sanctae Mariae supra Minervam"), represents one of the most beautiful buildings of religious value in the city of Rome. Construction began around the 13th century, but completion only took place around the 19th century. The building represents the only true example of medieval Gothic structure present in the entire Italian capital, and is well known in Italy for the presence inside the remains of numerous illustrious personalities of the past, such as Catherine of Siena (declared Doctor of the Church in 1970), and of the mystical painter Beato Angelico, proclaimed "universal patron of artists" during 1984. Among the most valuable works of art in the building are the frescoes by Melozzo da Forlì and Filippino Lippi. But let's see the structural features of the exteriors and interiors of this wonderful basilica.

The facade of the basilica

The facade of this marvelous basilica is characteristic and cared for in detail, just think that on the right side there are some commemorative plaques, depicting the floods that occurred close to between 1598 and 1870 by the river Tiber. The façade is however of a purely Romanesque style, while, vice versa, a Gothic style is prevalently present in the interior. The Renaissance decorations of the exterior are attributed to the work of Raguzzini, as part of an eighteenth-century intervention by Benedict XIII. On the façade you can admire three large portals built in Renaissance style, in the large main portal, however, there is a value characterized by a decoration of garlands.

The interior of the Basilica

The interior of the basilica is first of all characterized by the division into three naves, along the walls of these you can admire beautiful decorations and frescoes in the neo-Gothic style, whose construction was the work of some illustrious artists (including in particular Bernardino Riccardi, Pietro Gagliardi, Tommaso Greggia, Raffaele Casnédi) as part of a restoration work carried out during the nineteenth century. On the two aisles present laterally there are some chapels, with a predominantly Baroque aspect. In particular we find the "Carafa" chapel (whose frescoes were painted towards the end of the 15th century for the then cardinal "Oliviero Carafa"), the "chapel of the Annunziata" and that of "Aldobrandini" (the latter made in the early years of the seventeenth century), as well as the chapel of San Raimondo of "Peñafort". Precisely in the latter there is a prestigious fresco characterized by the representation of the living Christ between two angels, as well as the monument of a famous cardinal: The interiors of the basilica are first of all characterized by the division into three naves, along the walls of these you can admire beautiful Neo-Gothic style decorations and frescoes, whose realization took place by some illustrious artists (including in particular Bernardino Riccardi, Pietro Gagliardi, Tommaso Greggia, Raffaele Casnédi) as part of a restoration work carried out during the nineteenth century. On the two aisles present laterally there are some chapels, with a predominantly Baroque aspect.

Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva

In particular we find the "Carafa" chapel (whose frescoes were painted towards the end of the 15th century for the then cardinal "Oliviero Carafa"), the "chapel of the Annunziata" and that of "Aldobrandini" (the latter made in the early years of the seventeenth century), as well as the chapel of San Raimondo of "Peñafort". In the latter there is a prestigious fresco characterized by the representation of the living Christ between two angels, as well as the monument of a famous cardinal: Giovanni Diego de Coca, who died in 1477. The work is placed in the chapel of "San Raimondo. di Peñafort ", created by an artist also buried in the church: Andrea Bregno. The basilica, in addition to the works of art and frescoes of immense cultural value present inside the various chapels, contains some important funerary monuments, including in particular those of the parents of Pope Clement VIII "Aldobrandini" (on the left wall of the chapel Carafa, in particular, it is possible to see the funerary monument of "Paolo IV Carafa", of remarkable beauty). Remarkable are the paintings in the building, among the most beautiful and worthy of mention we find the work of Federico Barocci, placed on the facade of the altar. Another side chapel of great beauty is represented by the baptistery, characterized by the presence of a canvas depicting the "Noli me tangere": a Renaissance work by Marcello Venusti from Vercelli, which combined with the elegant decorations present there make this part of the basilica worthy of Note. The third chapel of the nave present in the basilica contains a representation of Christ the Savior. Beyond the undeniable beauty of the side chapels, the edifice is overall characterized by important works created during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with a commemorative content: retracing the basilica you can in fact see numerous funerary slabs (including those of Beato Angelico) , and statues of great value, such as that of the Christ carrying the cross made by Michelangelo (among the artists who created the funerary works and cenotaphs present in the structure we find important names, such as that of Gian Lorenzo Bernini). On the main altar of the basilica you can admire the sepulcher of Santa Caterina di Siena (in the lower part of the altar in particular, built in neo-Gothic style, the remains of the same were deposited, which however are missing a finger and the skull deposited in Siena, inside the basilica of San Domenico). There are numerous funerary monuments of popes and cardinals inside the basilica, in particular in the apse, highlighted by three mullioned windows, in which there are beautiful depictions of popes Leo X and Clement VII (inside it is also possible to see a monument of Paul IV, of Pope Urban VII and of Benedict XIII).

Why visit the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra la Minerva?

Santa Maria sopra la Minerva represents one of the most characteristic basilicas of Rome, to which the commemoration of deceased characters of great religious importance is given great importance. Visiting this basilica allows you to live an unprecedented memorial experience, as there are so many symbols of mortuary piety that characterize its interiors. The presence of its precious frescoes, its plates and its bronze ornaments (combined with rare and prestigious marbles) make this religious building one of the most beautiful and illustrious in the whole capital.

Website : https://www.santamariasopraminerva.it/it/

Product added to wishlist