Colonnades
Bernini's Colonnades in (Piazza San Pietro - Città del Vaticano) St Peter's Square, Vatican city, Rome, Italy. Consisting of 284 stone columns and 88 pilasters creating three aisles that lead to the Basilica. Above the colonnades overlooking the square are the statues of 140 Saints. Commissioned by Pope Alexander VII the design was described by Bernini to represent "the maternal arms of Mother Church", it was completed in 1666.
Each one of the lanterns in the colonnades is inscribed "San Pietro in Vat. Anno MDCCCLV" translated meaning 'St Peter in Vatican year 1855'. Why that date I'm unsure and I couldn't find any real answer on the internet, in 1855 Pope Pius IX reigned, he was known as the "friend of light" to protestants, it was also the year of a concordat between Austria and the Papacy, whether any of these are relevant I don't know, maybe it's just the year the lamps were installed.
Each one of the lanterns in the colonnades is inscribed "San Pietro in Vat. Anno MDCCCLV" translated meaning 'St Peter in Vatican year 1855'. Why that date I'm unsure and I couldn't find any real answer on the internet, in 1855 Pope Pius IX reigned, he was known as the "friend of light" to protestants, it was also the year of a concordat between Austria and the Papacy, whether any of these are relevant I don't know, maybe it's just the year the lamps were installed.
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