Colonna Dell'Immacolata

The Column of the Immaculate is in Piazza Di Spagna, in front of the Spanish embassy. In the seventeenth and eighteenth century France and Spain contributed to the architectural environment of this place, until then called Plaza de la Trinidad. In 1854, after the proclamation of the dogma of the immaculate, Pope Pius IX called for the construction of this column. It's the work of architect Luigi Poletti and the marble base stands at almost 12 meters. On its top it has a bronze statue representing the Virgin Mary that was made by the artist Obici, and was formerly in the Champ de Mars. It's said that the beauty of the work helped increase the Pope's popularity, hitherto despised by the Roman people.