Pontifical Sanctuary of the Scala Santa

The Scala Santa, located near the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, is one of the holiest places in Christianity. According to tradition, these 28 white marble steps are the ones that Jesus would have climbed to reach the praetorium of Pontius Pilate during his Passion. The stairs were supposedly brought to Rome by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, in 326 AD. The building that houses the Scala Santa was commissioned by Pope Sixtus V at the end of the 16th century and designed by architect Domenico Fontana. The complex includes, in addition to the Scala Santa, four additional flights of stairs, the Chapel of St. Lawrence in Palatio, also known as Sancta Sanctorum, which was the private chapel of the popes until the 14th century, and the Oratory of St. Sylvester in Palatio. The steps of the Scala Santa are covered with wooden boards to protect them from wear, as the faithful climb them on their knees as an act of devotion and penance. The walls of the staircase are decorated with frescoes created by a group of artists led by Cesare Nebbia and Giovanni Guerra. These frescoes, commissioned by Pope Sixtus V, depict scenes of the Passion of Christ and other sacred images, created with a speed and skill that testify to the importance of the work. In the 19th century, during the pontificate of Pope Pius IX, sculptures representing the Kiss of Judas and the Ecce Homo by Ignazio Jacometti, the Christ at the Column by Giosuè Meli, Pius IX in prayer and the Pietà by Tomasz Oskar Sosnowski, and Jesus in Gethsemane by Giuseppe Sartorio were added to the atrium. These works add an additional level of depth and meditation for visitors passing through the sanctuary. Devotion to the Scala Santa is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition. Every year, thousands of pilgrims climb the steps on their knees, praying and asking for graces. This act of devotion is particularly felt during Holy Week, when the faithful commemorate the Passion of Christ. The Scala Santa is not only a place of worship, but also an extraordinary example of Renaissance art and architecture. The entire complex, with its chapels, oratories, and frescoes, represents a meeting point between faith, history, and artistic beauty. The chapel of St. Lawrence, known as Sancta Sanctorum, is considered one of the holiest chapels in Rome, containing relics and the acheropite Lateran, a miraculous image of Christ believed to have not been made by human hands. Every detail of the Scala Santa and its complex is laden with meaning and history. Domenico Fontana’s architecture, with its combination of practicality and beauty, and the frescoes by Cesare Nebbia and Giovanni Guerra, with their ability to evoke deep spiritual emotions, make this place a center of spirituality and art.