View Article: Piazza di S. Ignazio

	Piazza di S. Ignazio
	written by Anabelle Sutcliffe, / 07.12.2004

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Piazza

The Piazza di S. Ignazio near the Pantheon.

Reason for Selection

The Piazza di S. Ignazio has a real sense of character. The peach and cream-colored paint on the buildings surrounding the piazza brighten the otherwise shaded area and contrast to the five dark alleys leading to it. The balconies and white window frames of each building collectively convey a theatrical setting for the piazza. Lamps created to look like candlesticks are attached to the walls of the building housing the police station for the area. Some of the buildings facades are convex while others are concave. The artistic style and lay-out is unique to this piazza alone.

Comparison

This piazza is similar to most other piazzas in Rome because it has its own church. The church of S. Ignazio di Loyola is situated just across the street from the police station. The architecture of the Piazza di S. Ignazio however, is very different from the other piazzas we visited. The piazza is much smaller and more inviting than other piazzas such as Piazza Navona and the piazza of the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. These piazzas attract many more tourists and consequently, more souvenier stands cluttering the alleys and sidewalks. The shape of the piazza is very symmetrical and the buildings surrounding the piazza have matching theatrical, elaborate decorations.

Impression

Piazza di S. Ignazio Police Station

On my way to the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, I took a wrong turn somewhere along my route and ended up at the Piazza di S. Ignazio. We had already been to the piazza as a class so I knew that I recognized where I was. The bright painted building and white trim immediately reminded me that this was the "theatrical piazza." The piazza stands out in my memory simply because it is so cute and artistic looking. I could imagine I was inside the walls of an open theatre as I was standing on the steps of the church of S. Ignazio di Loyola. The balconies hanging out from the decorative doorways on the building facades looked like they could be upper-level seating areas for a play being performed in the piazza square. The concave shape of the police station in the photograph gives the impression of being inside an amphitheatre. The buildings enclose the piazza from all sides like a protective shell.

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