Santa Maria Scala Coeli, Catholic church in Quartiere Ardeatino, Rome, Italy
Santa Maria Scala Coeli is a church with an octagonal floor plan located within the Tre Fontane Abbey grounds. Stone steps lead down to its entrance, creating a distinct separation from the surrounding monastery complex.
Cardinal Alessandro Farnese commissioned architect Vignola to redesign the building in 1582. Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini later played a key role in overseeing its reconstruction and final form.
The church draws its name from Saint Bernard's vision of souls climbing to heaven on a ladder. Visitors today can sense this spiritual connection when they enter the space and see how the architecture itself seems designed to reflect this ascending movement.
The church can be reached via Via delle Tre Fontane and sits within an active Trappist monastery. Visitors should keep in mind that they are entering a working monastic community, which may affect access at certain times.
The presbytery features a mosaic created by Francesco Zucca, and craftsmen's marks remain visible on the stone steps. These markings offer a rare glimpse into how Renaissance workers left their traces on the building.
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