You Can't Judge a Book by its Cover, and You Can't Judge a Basilica by its Facade

Anfter a 3 1/2-hour return road trip from Sorrento yesterday, we weren't in the mood to travel a mere 30 minutes by bus and train to visit Ostia, the ancient port city of Rome. No more ruins, in other words.

As an alternative, we walked a meandering route to the Pincio Gardens, stopping at whatever location caught our attention along the way.

Such as the Basilica of Santa Maria above Minerva.  Groundbreaking took place in 1280, and the church, of Gothic design, was completed in 1370.  Many changes have been made since then.

Exterior (note the pigeons)

 Altar 

Ceiling

One of the chapels