Near the Roman Pantheon in Piazza della Minerva small, we find the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, which lies behind a simple façade a surprisingly spacious and bright interior.
As its name in Italian, this church is built on the remains of an ancient pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva, and was built in 50 BC
The current appearance dates from the thirteenth century, when Pope Alexander IV gave the Friars their management Dominicans, who during the next two centuries were expanding and improving the temple gradually due to lack of funding.
Inside and under the main altar are the remains of St. Catherine of Siena, but the work of art that would highlight is the statue of "Christ of the Minerva or Christ carrying the cross", made famous by Miguel Angel , which is located to the left of the altar.
The vaults of the nave, transept and choir, are painted blue with gold stars and decorated with frescoes depicting the apostles, prophets and doctors of the church sat on thrones.
In the square where stands the church, we are "The Pulcino della Minerva", designed by Bernini statue of an elephant on which stands one of the eleven Egyptian obelisks in Rome and that found in the gardens of the monastery of the Dominicans.
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