Tucked away in a church near the Spanish Steps, you’ll find two angels so beautiful that the Pope couldn’t bear to part with them.
Back in the 1600s, the Pope commissioned the legendary Bernini to design ten angels for Ponte Sant’Angelo, the bridge leading to Castel Sant’Angelo, each representing elements of the Via Crucis of Jesus.
Bernini personally created only two of the ten statues you see today: the one holding the INRI sign and the one with the crown of thorns.
Once the statues were completed, the Pope considered these two angels too precious to be left outdoors on the bridge. So he had copies made by Bernini’s assistants and kept the originals for himself.
Today, you can see these two original angels inside the Church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte.
Here’s a closer look.
See the video transcript
When by the Spanish Steps in Rome, walk this way. You’re in for something just amazing. Take Via di Propaganda until you see this church. Now go inside. This is the church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte. Get closer to the altar, and on the side, you’ll find these two precious angels. These were sculpted by Bernini, but originally, they were not supposed to be here. These were actually made for Sant’Angelo Bridge, but when the Pope saw them, he thought they were too precious to be left outdoors, and so he kept them for himself.
📍 You’ll find it in Via di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, 1
