Cristo della Minerva Monument

Address: Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Piazza della Minerva 42, 00186 Rome, Italy (Cristo della Minerva located inside)

Admission: Free (church; donations welcome)

Cristo della Minerva is a marble statue of Christ executed by Michelangelo and displayed within the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. It is one of Michelangelo’s important early 16th-century sculptures.

Michelangelo carved the statue in the early 16th century for Santa Maria sopra Minerva; it has remained in the church since its installation and is associated with the artist’s Roman oeuvre.

The statue sits within Santa Maria sopra Minerva in central Rome, a short walk from the Pantheon and other central historic sites.

• Located inside a functioning church: The statue is located inside the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva; visitors should check church opening times before visiting as access depends on services and events.

The Cristo della Minerva is the Michelangelo sculpture inside the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, adjacent to the Pantheon in central Rome. It’s a very short walk (a few minutes) from the Pantheon or Piazza della Minerva. From Roma Termini you can take bus 64 toward the historic centre and alight at Largo di Torre Argentina (then a 5-10 minute walk); the closest Metro access for a longer walk is Line A (Barberini) about 10-15 minutes on foot.

• Go early before mid-morning or later in the afternoon to avoid peak tourist flows around the Pantheon area and to view Michelangelo's Cristo with fewer people in the nave.
• Enter through the main church door (Santa Maria sopra Minerva) rather than trying surrounding piazza corners-most visitors congregate outside but the statue is best seen inside the left transept near the high altar.
• Check church opening hours and scheduled Mass times before visiting so you don't arrive during services; take a moment to step into the small cloister and side chapels, which many visitors overlook.