The Porta Pia, a gate in the ancient Aurelian Walls, was designed by Michelangelo (1475-1564) for Pope Pius IV (r. 1559-65). It was the master's last architectural work and he died shortly before it was completed. Hailing from Milan, Pope Pius IV was born Giovanni Angelo Medici, a distant relation of the famous Florentine clan. According to legend, the curious decorative device above the coat of arms of Pius IV depicts a towel draped over a bowl, and a bar of soap, a sign that the pope was the descendant of a family of Milanese barbers. The bowl and towel (minus the soap) are twice repeated at a lower level. Comments are closed.
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My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private walking tours of Rome.
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