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Walking Tours of Rome

'Keyhole' View of St Peter's Basilica

26/5/2019

 
Walking Tours of Rome
Keyhole view of St Peter's Basilica, Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, Rome
Keyhole view of St Peter's Basilica

The Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, which was designed by the Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-78), is a rather curious affair. Situated outside the Magistral Villa, which belongs to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, its walls are decorated with a series of bizarre reliefs. 

The piazza attracts numerous visitors; however, most come not to admire Piranesi’s work, but to enjoy the famous ‘keyhole’ view of St Peter’s Basilica! If you look through the keyhole of the door to the garden of the Magistral Villa, you will see in the distance, perfectly framed by a row of hedges, Michelangelo's dome.

In addition to the piazza, Piranesi also designed the church of Santa Maria del Priorato, which stands in the grounds of the villa. The church turned out to be the artist's final resting-place. 

Entrance to the Magistral Villa, Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, Rome
Entrance to the Magistral Villa
Relief, Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, Rome
Relief, Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta
Church of Santa Maria del Priorato by Piranesi, Rome
Santa Maria del Priorato
Interior of Santa Maria del Priorato, Rome
Interior of Santa Maria del Priorato

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    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England.

    Since 2001 I have been living in Italy, where I run
    ​ walking tours of Florence, Rome &
    Venice.

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  • Private Tours
    • Private Tours of Rome
    • Private Tours of Florence
    • Private Tours of Venice
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • Vatican
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Tuscany
  • Gallery
  • Year in Art