PIAZZA DEL COMUNE, Temple Of Minerva

To the right of the Tower, the six columns of the Temple of Minerva take us back to a time more remote than the Middle Ages. It is likely that Piazza del Comune was once the forum, the most important public area in Roman times where the main activities and markets took place, and where the main public, civil and religious buildings were located.

This is a classic Roman temple, built in white marble on a thick base, now below ground level. The six columns of the facade support a triangular tympanum; a rectangular room inside, called the naos, housed the statue of the deity.

As was often the case, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the temple was converted into a church, still known today as Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. It belonged to the Benedictine monks, who used it for workshops and housing, adding a little church inside, which was subsequently used as the seat of the local government and then as a prison. Finally, in the 16th century, it was turned back into the church you can see today. In Roman times, Minerva was the goddess of wisdom, while Mary, the mother of Christ, represents Christian wisdom, making this place of worship an impressive link between paganism and Christianity!...