The Vatican will get a restoration job soon, with St Peter’s square being restored to what is described as the original idea from Bernini from the 1600’s.
From the Carlo Magno corridor to Costantino the ochre finish on the ground, applied in the 1800’s will be taken off, and restored to white.
The decision has been made on finding a document in the Vatican archives that attests to Bernini’s original vision for Piazza san Pietro.
Technicians and restoration experts have done analyses of the square, and found below the ochre finish a white surface that should have been the original.
The work is expected to take about five years, in which time restoration works will also be completed on the 140 statues and 244 columns in the piazza.