Basilica of Saint Mary above Minerva

As the name suggests, this basilica, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, stands atop an older, Roman temple, in which the goddess of wisdom, Minerva, was worshipped.

The remnants of that temple, like its majestic Corinthian columns, can still be seen inside the basilica today. It is not the only thing that makes this church special, though. This basilica, consecrated in 1370, is also the only Gothic church building still standing in Rome. Only the interior is original, though. Its facade, designed in Neo-Gothic style, is dated to the 19th century.