San Bernardo alle Terme, Mannerist church near Diocletian's Baths in Rome, Italy
San Bernardo alle Terme is a church with an unusual circular design situated right beside the ruins of Diocletian's ancient baths. The 22-meter dome features an opening at its center that fills the space with natural light and creates a bright interior.
The church was commissioned in 1589 by Caterina Sforza di Santafiora, niece of Pope Julius III, who had it built for a French Cistercian group called the Feuillants. The builders adapted part of the existing Diocletian's Baths structure to serve its new religious purpose.
The interior displays eight stucco statues by Camillo Mariani depicting various saints and decorating the circular space. These works shape how the church feels as a sacred place and show the artistic skill of the Mannerist period.
The church is located on Via Torino 94 in the Castro Pretorio district, within walking distance of Termini Station. Visitors should watch for its distinctive circular shape, as it can easily be overlooked among surrounding buildings.
The building was cleverly converted from the remnants of an ancient Roman bathhouse and reuses the solid structure of the original walls. The circular design was deliberately inspired by Roman engineering knowledge to create a bridge between ancient and Renaissance times.
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