The Coat of Arms of Pope Urban VIII

Map

Coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII

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Rome, unsurprisingly, is awash with papal coats of arms and my favourite example is to be found in Santa Maria in Aracoeli. It belongs to Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44) and crowns the counter-facade of the church. 

An enormous stucco scroll supported by two angels bears an inscription, dated 1634, which extols the pope, who was a member of the Barberini family, hence the triad of bees. 

• Related post: Papal Coats of Arms. 

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Counter-facade