The Embrace of Mother Church

Map

Aerial view of St Peter's Square

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The twin colonnades of Piazza San Pietro were commissioned by Pope Alexander VII (r. 1655-67) and designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). They were built between 1656 and 1667, a gigantic undertaking that nearly bankrupted the papacy.  

Bernini designed the colonnades, each of which is made up of four rows of columns (13 m high), to symbolise, in his words, 'the maternal arms of Mother Church'.

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North colonnade

Disc marking the 'centre' of the north colonnade

The four rows of columns line up perfectly, creating the illusion that there is only a single set of columns

Coat of arms of Pope Alexander VII