The Church of Santa Maria del Priorato together with the garden forms a palace complex belonging to the Order of the Knights of Malta. The interior of the classicist temple is decorated with an elaborate altar by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. The area is inaccessible to visitors, but the Square of the Knights of Malta in front of the church attracts hundreds of tourists every day. The reason is the famous view of the dome of St. Peter and the panorama of Rome. The image displayed by a row of neatly trimmed cypresses can be seen through the keyhole of one of the gates leading to the garden.
The history of the church dates back to the second half of 10th century. In the 12th century it was owned by the Knights Templar. The Romans believe that the building, full of Masonic symbols, hides many secrets of a historical order.
The site on which the entire complex is located belongs neither to the Vatican nor to Italy. The Order is recognized by many countries as a sovereign subject of international law. His estates in Malta and Italy have the privilege of extraterritoriality. Interestingly, the order also has its own currency, post office and registration numbers.
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