Scalinata di San Bernardino
The Scalinata di San Bernardino is a wide staircase in L'Aquila that connects different elevation levels across the city. The steps are shallow and deep, making them easy to walk, while small niches decorate both sides of the structure.
Construction of the staircase began in the late 1600s and was completed in 1825, serving as a passage between the city's elevation levels for centuries. The adjoining church with its Renaissance facade was designed in the early 1500s by Nicola Filotesio and demonstrates the site's long building tradition.
San Bernardino is the name of the church at the top of the stairs, which gives the place its identity. Today the steps serve as a gathering space for the community, especially during events and festivals where people come together to experience the location's role in city life.
The location is easily reached on foot and sits centrally in the city near shops and cafes. The shallow and wide steps are accessible for people of all ages and are commonly used as a daily route by residents.
Small niches line both sides of the staircase, which once held statues of important figures from the city and church. The church facade at the top displays a relief sculpture featuring the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and San Bernardino, commissioned by a historical donor named Gerolamo da Norcia.
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