Scala Regia

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Scala Regia. On the right the equestrian statue of Constantine the Great
Scala Regia (around 1835), drawing by William Leighton Leitch with a little exaggerated proportions
A schematic floor plan of all rooms, halls and courtyards around the Scala Regia (4 / 4b).

The Scala Regia is a staircase in the Vatican City in Rome that is part of the official entrance to the Vatican.

Location / history

The staircase is located behind the Portone di bronzo (Italian: bronze gate) in Gian Lorenzo Bernini's colonnades and connects St. Peter's Basilica , the rooms and the Sistine Chapel , which can be reached via the former Pope's throne room, the Sala Regia . It was built in the 16th century by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and significantly rebuilt by Bernini from 1663 to 1666. With its imposing and solemn design, the staircase should prepare the visitor for something big (for example an audience with the Pope ). The Scala Regia is not open to the public, but at least the first, lower section of the stairs can be seen in the background from St. Peter's Square through the open bronze gate guarded by Swiss Guards.

layout

Bernini's task was to redesign the unrepresentative Sangallo staircase. A demolition and a new building was out of the question, as the stairs are between St. Peter's Basilica and the Apostolic Palace and thus the venerable structures of Sala Regia and Cappella Paolina would have been damaged. There was only the possibility of an effective conversion. According to Bernini, this was "the most daring operation I have ever undertaken in my life".

In order to remedy the prevailing difficulties, such as the elongated appearance, the relatively narrow width and the irregular tapering of the corridor, Bernini used architectural means that require a precise knowledge of human viewing habits. The distance between the inserted columns and the wall becomes smaller towards the rear in its renovation and is also larger on the left than on the right. The irregular tapering of the corridor is less pronounced. In addition, the intercolumns and column widths increase towards the rear, making the corridor again more compressed and thus wider and more stately. A popular technique from baroque architecture to amaze the visitor. The same trompe-l'oeil used z. B. Francesco Borromini in the Palazzo Spada to make a statue standing close to the viewer look more monumental. In addition to the optical harmonization through the set columns with square pedestals, bulging bases and smooth shafts, Bernini also let the vaulting of the coffered barrel vault rise towards the rear. Due to the additional lining with stucco decorations and white marble as well as the reinforcement of the natural incidence of light from the east, the staircase appears brighter, wider and therefore more impressive than it is.

At the foot of the stairs is the equestrian statue of Constantine the Great by Bernini (1663–1670). The rider sits on a rising horse and looks up at a Christ monogram with the inscription IN HOC SIGNO VINCES (“In this sign you will win”). The legendary scene from the battle of the Milvian Bridge against Constantine's co-emperor Maxentius symbolizes the beginning of Christianity as the state religion .

literature

  • Reclam's art guide Rome. Edited by Anton Henze, Kunibert Bering u. Gerhard Wiedmann. 5th edition Stuttgart 1994. p. 331 u. 347, ISBN 3-15-010402-5 .

Web links

Commons : Scala Regia  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bernini, The Creator of Baroque Rome, Arne Karsten, Becksche Reihe, Munich 2006
  2. ^ Charles Avery: Bernini . Hirmer Verlag, Munich 2007, p. 216 .
  3. ^ Arne Karsten: Bernini, creator of baroque Rome . 2nd Edition. CH Beck, Munich 2017, ISBN 978-3-406-70403-1 .

Coordinates: 41 ° 54'9.9 "  N , 12 ° 27'15.3"  E.