San Michele, Baroque church in Cagliari, Italy
San Michele is a Baroque church in Cagliari built around a central dome and an oval floor plan, marked by two sacristies and an arched entrance area. The building directly connects the worship space to adjoining college rooms, creating a compact and functionally integrated complex.
Construction began in 1687 following a donation from Francesco Angelo Dessì, with the façade completed by 1705. This building period coincided with Cagliari's urban renewal, when Baroque design became a mark of the city's transformation.
The Jesuit community that once taught and worshipped here shaped the building's design and purpose, following the order's architectural principles. You can still sense how the space was divided for learning and prayer, with distinct areas serving different functions.
The building sits near Piazza Yenne and is easy to reach on foot while exploring Cagliari's old town. Guided tours in multiple languages are available to help you understand the architectural and artistic features throughout the interior.
The structure originally combined three separate functions: a college with an interior courtyard, priest quarters, and the main worship hall. This layout reveals how the Jesuits integrated their teaching, living, and spiritual work within a single architectural whole.
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