Column of the Immaculate Conception, Victory column near Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy
The Column of the Immaculate Conception is a marble monument in Rome standing about 12 meters tall and topped with a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary resting on a crescent moon. The base is decorated with intricate carved panels and figures that make this a detailed work of art.
The Pope commissioned the monument in 1854 to celebrate the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception dogma, with construction finished in December 1857. Notably, an original marble fragment had been discovered in 1777 but remained unused for around 80 years before being incorporated into this new structure.
The base displays four marble panels showing biblical scenes such as the Annunciation and Mary's coronation, with prophet statues carved below. These carvings tell stories that visitors notice as they walk around the monument.
The monument stands on Piazza Mignanelli and is freely accessible from outside at any time, needing no advance planning or special equipment. The best time to visit is on quieter days when the nearby Spanish Steps are less crowded.
A fragment of the original marble column was discovered back in 1777 at a Benedictine convent and lay unused for decades before being built into this monument. This reuse of a historic stone links two different periods in a single work of art.
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