Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

What it is

This church in Rome was created by converting part of the ruined Baths of Diocletian, an ancient Roman bathhouse, into a Christian basilica. Michelangelo worked on the design from 1563 to 1564, the year of his death; his pupil Jacopo Del Duca continued the work afterward. The building stands in Piazza della Repubblica and later received additions from other architects.

Why it matters

The church shows Michelangelo's late-life interest in reusing and transforming ancient Roman structures rather than building entirely new ones. Its unusual layout, built from the huge vaulted spaces of the baths, demonstrates how Renaissance architects engaged directly with Rome's classical past. The project also reflects the religious ambitions of Pope Pius IV and the campaigning of figures like Antonio del Duca.

Look closer

• What clues in the building's shape suggest it was once a Roman bath rather than a church?
• Why might Michelangelo have chosen to preserve ancient Roman structure instead of demolishing it?
• How did later changes, like the 1911 facade removal, affect how we see the building today?