Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Italy, Rome resort
Rating: 8,0/10 (2049 votes)  The Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is a titular minor basilica located in the Pigna area. The Basilica is one of the main cathedrals of the Roman Catholic Dominican Order. Nowadays, the basilica is considered to be the only surviving Roman Gothic temple. The basilica was built on the site of an ancient temple that was mistakenly dedicated to the pagan goddess Minerva. Today the lush and spacious interior of the Dominican Cathedral of Rome is hidden behind an unremarkable facade, largely acquired as a result of renovations made in the 19th century. The ruins of the Temple of Minerva were preserved until the 8th century, until Pope Zacharius ceded the plot to the Greek monks. After them, this place in the XIII century was occupied by the Dominicans, who built a church here. Both the builders and parishioners of the temple were the Florentines. In 1380, Catherine of Siena, a Tertiian woman of the Dominican order, was buried in the temple. Earlier, commissions gathered in the temple to decide questions on the abdication of heretics. The rites of renunciation were also held in the church. Among the many Tuscan people who found in the temple has its last refuge, became Pope Urban the Seventh, Paul the Fourth, Leo the Tenth, Clement the Seventh, as well as the painter Angelico. In 1431 and 1447, conclaves were held in the church. In the 17th century, restoration work was carried out in the cathedral, during which the facade acquired the Baroque style. Supervised by Carlo Maderno. In the 19th century, a large-scale restoration was also carried out in the church. Among the attractions of the cathedral are the Carafa chapel painted by Filippino Lippi, the Baroque Aldobrandini chapel and the statue of Christ standing with a cross, by Michelangelo. Right in front of the church is a marble elephant on which Bernini erected an Egyptian obelisk in 1667.     We also recommend reading Villa Adriana in Italy, Tivoli resort Topic: Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Italy, Rome resort. |
