Tucked just off the bustling Graben, the Basilica Mary Rotunda (often called the Dominican Church) feels like a portal back in time. The church’s circular form is unusual, with columns that encircle the space and create a sense of protection through calming symmetry. Light slips in through the high windows, illuminating the upper dome while leaving the lower areas in darkness, creating a natural chiaroscuro.

The Dominicans have been here since the 13th century and have shaped the church through centuries of preaching, study and prayer. Their preference for simplicity is palpable: ornamentation is present, but never indulgent. The shadows feel purposeful, as though they are part of the design. One of the most interesting memento mori carvings I found was an ouroboros encircling an hourglass, hidden away at the base of a column to the left of the altar. Near the entrance, you can also find a beautiful funerary monument flanked by winged skeletons.

There isn’t as much dazzling theatrical drama here, instead the design unfolds slowly, revealing itself the longer you look.