Located within easy walking distance
of the Pantheon and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva are two more Roman treasures: Il Gesu, the Jesuit Mother Church, and Area Sacra Largo Argentina a collection of ruined temples among more recent city structures.
Il Gesu
Il Gesu stands on
the location of the first Jesuit chapel. When this church was finally built, the catholic church was still struggling in the wake of the protestant reformation. Initially undecorated, the church is now decorated with silver, gold, marble and more.
Il Gesu has a distinctive white facade. exterior is a richly decorated and colorful interior. The ceiling, which is the main reason I chose to visit this church, is elaborately painted with a scene of the glory of Christ. The painting literally bursts from its frame. It is set amidst a ceiling of gold, and surrounded by white sculptures of angels.
Its telling feature are the scrolled pieces known as volutes. Beyond the somber
Area Sacra Largo Argentina
These ruins are little known, even among the abundant amount of information to
be found on the web, despite the fact that they are located so near to other structures of note.
The ruins are located along the Corso Vitorio Emanuele II and consist of 4 temples and their surroundings. The ruins set lower than the modern streets. While it is possible to get a brief tour to walk among the ruins, everything of interest can generally be seen from above. For more detailed information, I took the liberty of photographing the signs around the ruins. There is some historical info, as well as some maps. The ruins are also a cat sanctuary, and the guided tours are billed as supporting the cat population.
You may even be able to make out the lone black cat in my picture, but be assured there are many
cats in every shady spot within the sanctuary.
Il Gesu
Il Gesu stands on
the location of the first Jesuit chapel. When this church was finally built, the catholic church was still struggling in the wake of the protestant reformation. Initially undecorated, the church is now decorated with silver, gold, marble and more. Il Gesu has a distinctive white facade. exterior is a richly decorated and colorful interior. The ceiling, which is the main reason I chose to visit this church, is elaborately painted with a scene of the glory of Christ. The painting literally bursts from its frame. It is set amidst a ceiling of gold, and surrounded by white sculptures of angels.
Its telling feature are the scrolled pieces known as volutes. Beyond the somber
Area Sacra Largo Argentina
These ruins are little known, even among the abundant amount of information to
The ruins are located along the Corso Vitorio Emanuele II and consist of 4 temples and their surroundings. The ruins set lower than the modern streets. While it is possible to get a brief tour to walk among the ruins, everything of interest can generally be seen from above. For more detailed information, I took the liberty of photographing the signs around the ruins. There is some historical info, as well as some maps. The ruins are also a cat sanctuary, and the guided tours are billed as supporting the cat population.
You may even be able to make out the lone black cat in my picture, but be assured there are many
cats in every shady spot within the sanctuary.
1 comment:
Yay! Cat sanctuary....great pics.
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