Carafa Chapel, Renaissance chapel in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Italy
The Carafa Chapel is a small place of worship located in the right transept of the church Santa Maria sopra Minerva with walls and ceiling entirely covered in frescos. The paintings depict religious scenes, allegorical figures, and four named sibyls surrounded by angels, with a central Annunciation scene framed by ornate architectural designs.
Cardinal Oliviero Carafa commissioned the chapel's construction and hired the renowned painter Filippino Lippi to complete the frescoes between 1488 and 1493 in the late 15th century. This period saw Rome become a major center for Renaissance art and architectural innovation.
The chapel reflects how wealthy church leaders expressed their faith and status through commissioned artworks that combined religious imagery with classical learning. The painted scenes show the Renaissance blend of spiritual devotion with intellectual pursuits that appealed to educated viewers of the time.
The chapel is located inside a larger church, so you enter through the main entrance and then head toward the right transept area. Morning hours offer the best lighting to see the frescoes clearly, as sunlight illuminates the painted surfaces from the sides.
The sibyls depicted in the chapel are labeled with their individual names, which was uncommon in Renaissance art since such classical figures typically remained anonymous. This labeling demonstrates how the work deliberately linked ancient wisdom with Christian themes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
