St. Ivo alla Sapienza

Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza is a Baroque church located in the heart of the historic center of Rome, in the Sant'Eustachio district, right next to the Faculty of Architecture of Sapienza - University of Rome.The church was commissioned in 1642 by Cardinal Francesco Barberini and designed by architect Francesco Borromini, one of the leading exponents of Roman Baroque. The original plan called for a building in the shape of a Greek cross, but Borromini modified the design during construction, creating an original eight-pointed star plan. The church was consecrated in 1660.The facade of the church is made of travertine and features a large triangular pediment supported by four columns. The interior of the church is very atmospheric and bright, thanks to the many windows and the original lantern-shaped dome.The dome is Borromini's masterpiece, 26 meters high and supported by four pillars. The dome's lantern consists of a series of windows that allow natural light to enter the interior of the church. The dome is decorated with stucco and frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St. John the Evangelist.The interior of the church is very atmospheric and contains many artistic treasures, including the polychrome marble high altar and side chapels decorated with paintings by important artists of 17th-century Rome.The church has been restored over the centuries and has suffered much damage from earthquakes and wars. In the 1930s, the church suffered a serious ceiling collapse, which was later rebuilt.Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza is one of the most striking places in Rome and is one of the masterpieces of Roman Baroque. The church is open to the public and can be visited every day.