One of the most fascinating spectacles in Roman artistry, the Dome of Illusion, or St Ignazio Ceiling, is a flat ceiling painted to appear curved like a dome. One can get lost contemplating the precise painting techniques that led to this Roman Wonder.
The church was built between 1626 and 1650 in the Baroque style for Ignatius of Loyola. It was originally a school for grammar, humanity, and Christian doctrine. A domed ceiling was intended to be installed in the interior of the building, but due to scarce funds, a painter was hired instead to create the illusion of an arch across the ceiling. Andrea Pozzo humbly took on the project, painting a fresco across the nave ceiling. The piece is made to depict Saint Ignatius being accepted into paradise by Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Due to his dedication to the project, the illusion is now a great tourist attraction for those visiting Rome.