Tempietto, High Renaissance temple in Trastevere, Rome, Italy
The Tempietto is a circular structure with sixteen granite columns surrounding a central chamber, topped with a dome and classical decorative details. This small shrine measures roughly 15 feet (4.5 meters) across and was designed as a shrine at a sacred location.
Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella commissioned architect Donato Bramante to design this structure between 1502 and 1510 at the site where Saint Peter was martyred. The construction became a turning point in Renaissance architecture, shaping design ideals for decades to come.
The structure draws from Roman building methods and classical proportions that shaped how Renaissance architects thought about design. Walking around it, you notice how these principles influenced the way later buildings were conceived and constructed.
The structure sits on Gianicolo Hill near the San Pietro in Montorio church and can be reached through the courtyard of the Spanish Royal Academy. The site is open to visitors on foot, though parking options nearby are limited.
Bramante created a masterwork of proportion here that later became direct inspiration for the design of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. An underground chamber contains a crypt marking the exact spot of martyrdom, which drew pilgrims for centuries afterward.
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