Scala Regia

The Scala Regia (Royal Staircase) is a flight of steps in the Vatican City and is part of the formal entrance to the Vatican. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1633 to 1636 to connect the Vatican Palace to the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane by Francesco Borromini.

Related Topics:
Vatican City - Gian Lorenzo Bernini - 1633 - 1636 - San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane - Francesco Borromini

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The site, a comparatively narrow slither of land between church and palace, is awkwardly shaped with irregular converging walls. Bernini used a number of typically theatrical, baroque effects in order to overcome this problem, including placing an equestrian statue of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great by his own hand at the foot of the stairs. The monument to Constantine provides a focal point that lessens the awkwardness of the change of direction the visitor must take. Pope Clement IX later installed a sculpture of Charlemagne in the portico of St. Peter's Basilica as a pendant to that of Constantine.

Related Topics:
Baroque - Equestrian statue - Constantine the Great - Clement IX - Charlemagne - St. Peter's Basilica

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The staircase proper takes the form of a barrel-vaulted colonnade that necessarily becomes narrower at the end of the vista, thus giving the effect of false perspective. Above the arch at the beginning of this vista is the coat of arms of Alexander VII, flanked by two sculpted angels.

Related Topics:
Barrel-vaulted - Colonnade - False perspective - Alexander VII

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