I am trying to find hours that this church is open for visiting but all that I find is that it is open for two hours on Sundays. It looks like a beautiful church, designed by Borromini. Does anyone know if the hours of 10:00 to 12:00 on Sundays are in fact the only times that this church is open to visitors?
It's a tricky one and hours change with great regularity.
As I understand, they don't have enough money for a regular caretaker and depend on volunteer help.
Sometimes it's open every day for long intervals. Then, there will be a spell in which it's open only on Sunday.
I haven't passed by recently to check on the hours, but I'm told that it seems to be open with some regularity.
This is almost no help whatsoever, I know, except to confirm that the hours are unpredictable and it's best to stop by whenever you're in the neighborhood if you're keen on seeing the church.
Does anyone know if the hours of 10:00 to 12:00 on Sundays are in fact the only times that this church is open to visitors?
In 2004, the apartment we stayed in overlooked Sant' Ivo - a lovely view! We walked by several times but never found it open until one Sunday morning when there was a service. We slid in through the velvet curtains and discreetly looked around - beautiful architecture and an amazing dome. The church courtyard was in a pleasing layout, too. I hope you get a chance to see the interior.
Posts: 14209 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
I'm kicking myself a bit. On our last trip we saw the large doors to the courtyard open and I walked a little ways in. I didn't know it was a church and didn't know if I was allowed so we turned around and left. I just now realized it was this church as I was looking on Google Earth. Rats.
We saw it accidentally last year. We were early for a Slowtrav lunch get together in the neighborhood and stumbled across an exhibition of post WW II photography in the street front section of the surrounding courtyard. From there I wandered down and found an open door, but the church was clearly not open for visitors.
ellen
Posts: 2997 | Location: mahwah, new jersey, usa | Registered: 10 December 2003
I managed to get in to see it on a Monday morning last October. I didn't realize at the time that it isn't regularily open, so I was fortunate I guess.
It's well worth a visit.
Posts: 684 | Location: Toronto | Registered: 18 February 2006
Last November the open hours that were posted were: during the day, each day of the week. (Sorry, I don't have the exact times.) We went during the day on a weekday without a problem and had St. Ivo to ourselves. Two years before, and the year before that, the only time it was open was Sunday from 9 till noon (and of course because it is so small you wouldn't want to go in while a service was in progress). My suggestion, because a visit to St. Ivo is such a small Borromini gem and not to be missed, is to go during the week and if it is open, go in and enjoy. If it is closed, see what the posted hours are and then make plans to return during that time.
Peter L
Posts: 33 | Location: Seattle | Registered: 27 January 2006
We also happened upon the open gate into the courtyard and only saw the exterior of the church, but it was magnificent. Here's a photo. I'll have to check out the interior next time we're in Rome.
Posts: 928 | Location: North of Seattle | Registered: 28 February 2003
Sant' Ivo was one of my "must sees" on my trip this past February. The church was only open on Sunday at about 9:15 for mass. I attended a lovely service (in Italian) and took my time leaving. A few tourists came in during the service but most of the people sat down and stayed. The courtyard is open longer and also during the week but the interior of the church is the treat.
If you've never been inside, try not to miss it. It's such a special place.
Posts: 406 | Location: Watertown, New York, USA | Registered: 22 August 2003