Cordonata
The so-called Cordonata is the large flight of stairs that is today's main entrance to Capitol Square in Rome . Michelangelo designed this staircase in the 16th century.
At the lower end of the marble balustrade of the cordonata are two lions - statues made of black granite , which are said to have been in this place since ancient times . Originally they probably represented the end of an aqueduct , so they were a kind of gargoyle . It is to this function that they owe the privilege in the course of the Middle Ages and the early modern period to be allowed to act as wine dispensers several times at festivals in order to supply the Roman population with plenty.
Between the steeper staircase of the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli (left) and the Cordonata (right) is the monument of the Cola di Rienzo tribune, erected in the 19th century , who gave his speeches to the Roman people from the former.
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Coordinates: 41 ° 53 ′ 37.1 ″ N , 12 ° 28 ′ 56.2 ″ E