Scala Santa
San Giovanni, Esquilino, Monti
Con la distruzione del vecchio Patriarchio, l’antica cappella di San Lorenzo in Palatio fu inglobata in una nuova struttura: il Santuario della Scala Santa. Qui furono alloggiati i 28 gradini della scala che secondo la tradizione cristiana fu percorsa da Gesù prima dell’interrogatorio di Ponzio Pilato, regalati da Sant’Elena a papa Silvestro I. In segno di devozione i fedeli percorrono la scala in ginocchio fino alla grata dell’inaccessibile cappella del Sancta Sanctorum, ornata di affreschi duecenteschi e scrigno di preziose reliquie.
- Location: Scala Santa
- Date: 1589 - 1589
This section, designed by Fontana for Sixtus V, contains the relic of the marble stair covered in wood that, according to christian tradition was climbed by Jesus to be judged by the people and sacrificed in place of Barabbas. The relic was brought to Rome by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine. The faithful climb the stair on their knees until arriving at the gate of the celebrated Chapel of the Sancta Sanctorum, always closed, but decorated with frescoes from ‘200.
THINGS TO KNOW: Among the masterpieces of the Sancta Sanctorum is the image on wood of the face of Jesus, so-called “acheropita”, meaning not made by human hands.
