After took in the Pantheon, it’s worth to visit the Santa Maria sopra Minerva Square with big Egyptian obelisk which was set here by Bernini. Bernini set this obelisk on the elephant’s back so this place often called as “Elephant’s Square”.
The square got its name in honor of the Santa Maria sopra Minerva church, the only one Gothic church in the Rome. Inside of this church you can see a lot of Renaissance arts but the main is the “The Risen Christ” Michelangelo. (Frankly speaking his pupils have spoiled his work a little after his death)
The church was a burial place for some Popes. So you can see inside the tombs of the famous people. Among them such names as Paul VI who was the enemy of the Protestants in the fullness of time, Leo the Tenth and Clement the Seventh who were the backers of arts in the times of the Renaissance. And near their tomb you can see the shrine of the Catherine of Siena who returned the Pope’s throne from the Avignon to Rome.
In other words, here you can find the names which exerted to the European policy tremendously. And it’s not wonder that the most famous artists of the Renaissance were involved to adorn its exterior.
For example, on the side chapels there are frescoes by Perugino and sculptures by Bernini.
Santa Maria sopra Minerva has known not only as the temple of arts. The church has also the sad fame. It’s the place were Galileo has been interrogated by Inquisition. And here the great scientist proclaimed his famous “And still it moves”!!!
