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| Reaching to the heavens. |
Well, Michelangelo, for one, who – at age 86 – designed the towering Basilica of Santa Maria de le Angeli as his last architectural work – incorporating elements of the previous structure into his design.
The church, with stark, buttressed ceilings, is home to Galileo Galilei's first pendulum, and, currently, an extremely defensive exhibit professing Galileo's widely questioned faith, while, ironically, extolling the absolute value of religion over science.
There is also a long, fascinating meridian line-based calendar inlaid into the floor, which is marked by a pinprick of light from a strategically placed hole high up on the wall. I'd imagine it's a more scientific rendition of "seeing the light."
Our final stop prior to catching the train to Civitavecchia was the Church of Santa Maria Della Vittoria, which was featured in the book and movie, Angels & Demons. The relatively small church is home to one of Bernini's three "Ecstasies," which, in the novel, points to the next clue as a Cardinal hangs above a burning pyre at the alter.
The sheen of the extremely ornate frescoes makes it abundantly evident the flames dancing around the church in the movie were but Hollywood magic.
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