Portici della Piazza di S. Pietro di Roma

Opus Equitis Joannis Laurentij Bernini; Joannes Pabtista Bonaccina sculp.

Opus Equitis Joannis Laurentij Bernini'; 'Joannes Pabtista Bonaccina sculp.' [translation of central inscription: 'Knowing that many popes had experienced great inconvenience when visiting the church of Saint Peter's and other rooms in the Papal Palace, during the summer when the square is dominated by the sun, and in the winter when the rain makes it impractical, our current Holy Lord, pope Alexander VII, had it in mind to construct a portico which would remedy these inconveniences, also for the good public as well as to raise the magnificence of the Temple and emphasize its facade. He initiated the construction of this portico with three walkways, separated by the four orders of the columns, for greater convenience to both carriages and people on foot. And because many people from countries far away desire to see this design of great renown, it was considered a good idea to satisfy their curiosity and send it to be printed.'] 

Floor plans, aerial view and frontal view of the arcade in front of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The aerial view shows that it concerns an earlier, not executed, stage of the plans in which the square would almost have been closed off completely by a third part of the arcade on the far side of the square. The scale of the images has been indicated below. Explanation of the different designs and measurements are given on the left and right. In the middle, on two banners held up by angels, the reason for the erection of the arcade is explain in Latin and Italian.