History: The site is located on the site of the Temple of Minerva, the Roman goddess of Wisdom. The Egyptian Obelisk was found by monks in the temple of Isis near the site as well. The Basilica (Santa della Maria Sopra Minerva) is the only gothic church in Rome, with an exterior that has transformed over the years until its current Neo-Classical state. Galileo was also tried here during his pro-science, anti-Catholic-the-solar-system-revolves-around-the-earth days.
Currently: The Piazza is surrounded by 4 buildings: the Basilica della Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Palazzo Minerva, Palazzo Severo, and Palazzo della Albergo Minerva (the Hotel Minerva). The only point of interest is the Basilica, other than that the Piazza includes expensive antique stores and an expensive hotel. The main focus of the site is the statue of the elephant (symbolic of wisdom and strength) carrying the obelisk on his back. Pedestrians have a tendency to walk straight through the site since the Pantheon is a point of interest just next door. Nobody seems to cut through the “front yard” of the basilica, they walk around it. The only people to enter past the bollards keeping cars from driving through the “front yard” of the basilica seem to also keep pedestrians from cutting through as well. The only thing pedestrians notice is the cute elephant, the facade of the basilica is not even welcoming enough to prove the importance of this piazza in Rome. The basilica houses the crypt of Saint Catherine, Patron saint of Europe, along with many other dead bodies of important people, including numerous popes.
Problem: The site acts as a cut through to get from the to the Pantheon. The ballasts act as a mental block from exploring the Basilica closer. The facade of the Basilica does not hold a candle to the grandness of the interior, nor to the important role this particular basilica plays in the Catholic church. The basilica is over 2 and a half times the size of the piazza in front of it, yet nobody knows it’s interior is gothic. Recent satellite images show that until recently, many Romans used this site as a parking lot, which proves just how much people know about the significance of this site.
Hypothesis: How would getting rid of the Pantheon effect the use of Piazza della Minerva? We could get rid of just the Pantheon, just Piazza Rotunda, or both the Pantheon and Piazza Rotunda. Would this effect how people view the importance of our site? Or would this make our site a less walked-through site, just because there is nothing it leads to.
Solution: Take away one of the more expensive aspects of this piazza (like the antique store) and replace it with something more people could use, like a restaurant. The chain-rope on the southern bollards could also be removed so people don’t think they can’t cut past the church. Perhaps even changing the facade of the exterior of the basilica to reflect its gothic interior.
Overall: We did extremely well. The critiques were positive and constructive. As a matter of fact, every critique went well. The 20 of us were extremely proud of ourselves and our work. Tomorrow, instead of studio, Eric and Marina are taking us to the Campidoglio Museum. So it should be pretty chill before we leave for Northern Italy on Friday =] We are all so excited for first Florence, then Venice, Venezia and last Milan. One week of pretty much vacation, and no internet....
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