santa maria sopra minerva is considered the only gothic church in rome. its name comes from being built above the foundations of a temple dedicated to minerva.

the obelisk in the piazza is placed upon a statue designed by bernini, the elephant carrying an obelisk.

the facade of the church has various marks from the 16th and 17th centuries marking the various floods of the tiber - the highest depicting the tiber rising approximately 65 feet (20 m).