Just a few steps from the Pantheon, an optical illusion has been deceiving visitors for over 400 years. You can find it inside the Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola, a Jesuit church inaugurated in 1626.
As you enter and look up at the ceiling, you may feel disoriented… Is the ceiling really open? Which cornice is real, and which is painted? And is that dome actually a dome?
Andrea Pozzo, the artist behind the ceiling, would surely be pleased by your confusion. Using sophisticated mathematical techniques, he masterfully created an illusion that tricks the human eye.
The fresco depicts the glory of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit order. It illustrates how light from Christ reaches St. Ignatius and, through him, spreads to the four continents known at the time: Europe, Africa, America, and Asia.
Now take a closer look. And see if your eyes can tell what’s real.
📍You’ll find it in Piazza S. Ignazio
