Tucked away in the back streets behind Piazza Navona, this small church boasts a columned semi-circular facade by Pietro da Cortona and a celebrated Raphael fresco, Sibille (Sibyls; c 1515). Next door, the Chiostro del Bramante (Bramante Cloister) is a masterpiece of High Renaissance architectural styling that is now used to stage art exhibitions and cultural events.
The cloister, which you can visit freely by popping up to the 1st-floor cafe, was originally part of the same monastery complex as the adjoining church. Its sober, geometric lines and perfectly proportioned spaces provide a marked counterpoint to the church’s undulating facade, beautifully encapsulating the Renaissance aesthetic that Bramante did so much to promote.
