Scala Santa Maria del Monte

Scala Santa Maria del Monte Review

The Scala Santa Maria del Monte's 142 individually-decorated tile steps lead up to the neglected Santa Maria del Monte church. On July 24 (the feast of San Giacomo, the city's patron saint) and again on August 15 (the feast of the Assumption) this staircase is illuminated with candles that form a tapestry design. Months of work go into preparing the 4,000 coppi, or cylinders of colored paper, that hold oil lamps—then, at 9:30 pm on the nights of July 24, July 25, August 14, and August 15, a squad of hundreds of youngsters (tourists are welcome to participate) springs into action to light the lamps, so that the staircase flares up all at once.