Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza

Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza is a Baroque church with an extraordinary six-sided floor plan whose walls alternate between curving inward and outward. The dome ends in a distinctive spiral lantern that rises above the roof of the surrounding building complex.

Francesco Borromini designed this church between 1643 and 1660 as a spatial solution for the courtyard of an older university. The project stood in direct competition with the contemporary works of Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the city.

The church stood at the heart of a learning complex where students studied arts and sciences. Today, the spaces still reflect this connection between knowledge and faith that is visible in the building itself.

The church sits inside a university complex, so access is normally limited to going through an inner courtyard. It is best to visit on Sunday morning when services are held and the doors are open.

The fundamental geometric form combines two overlapping triangles that together create a six-pointed star. This symbol is traditionally linked to divine wisdom, which perfectly suits its original purpose as a chapel for a university.

Location: Rome

Inception: 1643

Founders: Urban VIII

Architects: Francesco Borromini

Architectural style: baroque architecture, Baroque

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Website: http://vicariatusurbis.org/Ente.asp?ID=950

GPS coordinates: 41.89822,12.47473

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:00