Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva

Piazza della Minerva lies just off Via della Minerva behind the Pantheon. The name of the church, Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva, was given in view of its position as it is believed to have been built over a Roman temple dedicated to Minerva Calcidica. Work began on the church in 1280, but the façade was only completed in 1453. In fact, this was meant to be temporary, but it has remained unaltered despite many plans up until the 19th Century to modify it. The interior is the only example of Gothic architecture in Rome. On one side of the church can be seen the former convent, which once housed the offices of the Ministry of Education and now houses the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Research. It also holds the Casanatense Library with texts from the history of the Church. In the center of the square in front of the church stands a small Egyptian obelisk known as the Pulcin della Minerva.