Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza

This church is considered to be Borromini's masterpiece. He started working on it in the mid 17th century. It is located in the interior courtyard of the Palazzo della Sapienza, former site of the University of Rome, which was founded by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300 and moved in 1935 to the Citta Universitaria (Campus). Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza is famous for its spiral cupola, by which it can be recognized from any distance. It bears a wrought-iron sculpture of a tiara, a globe, and a cross. Art historians have suggested that this cupola represents the tower of Babel, while popular tradition prefers to see it as a stylized bee, from the coat of arms of Pope Urbano VIII Barberini, during whose papacy the construction of the church began. The white of the plaster works and stuccoes dominates the interior - these are Borromini's work, as is the geometric tiling on the floor. There is an altarpiece by Pietro di Cortona, consecrated to Sant'Ivo. Services: 10.45a Su

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• Attraction Type: Religious Buildings

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