Sant’Ivo della Sapienza

church, Rome, Italy

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July 13, 2026

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Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza is a Baroque church in Rome, Italy, designed by Francesco Borromini. It was formerly the chapel of the Palazzo della Sapienza, the historical seat of the University of Rome. Commissioned in 1632 and completed in 1660, the church is known for its ingenious design within a limited space, incorporating a convex facade into the palazzo's concave courtyard to play with perspective.12

The church's interior features a complex geometric plan, shaped like a Star of David formed by two intersecting triangles, creating a hexagonal arrangement of chapels and the altar. This design, along with its undulating facade and unique corkscrew lantern spire, deviates from traditional architectural compositions and showcases Borromini's innovative approach to Baroque style.13

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Francesco Borromini
An independent architect
…vaults, such as those of Sant’Ivo della Sapienza or the Re Magi chapel. He used the building yard as an extension of his drafting table and as a place where he could experiment and improvise to generate a fruitful exchange between design and execution. At San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane,…
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…vaults, such as those of Sant’Ivo della Sapienza or the Re Magi chapel. He used the building yard as an extension of his drafting table and as a place where he could experiment and improvise to generate a fruitful exchange between design and execution. At San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane,…
Read More