San Pietro in Montorio: Bramante's Masterpiece in Rome

San Pietro in Montorio, Bramante, 1502

Religious Architecture, Cinquecento, Rome

Introduction: This is an early work of Bramante in Rome. It is a chapel, built between 1502-1503, located in a small courtyard. According to tradition, Saint Peter was crucified on this site. It is a model of a religious building with a central plan, inspired by the Hellenistic *monopteros* temples, and its elevation recalls the Temple of the Sibyl at Tivoli.

Analysis and Features: It is considered the aesthetic ideal of the Renaissance in the 16th century. This architectural ideal is achieved by using:

• A monumental and grandiose architectural language, achieved through a rigorous study of the proportions of each part of the building.
• The creation of a complete architectural structure, closed in on itself. The ideal Renaissance building implies a symmetrical construction with a central plan in relation to a single point located in the center. It is a harmonious, closed plan dominated by a central vertical axis, which extends from the dome to the underground chamber.

Two concentric structures are articulated along this axis:

• The cylindrical body wall, topped by a dome on a drum, decorated by pilasters and exterior niches.
• An external concentric body that surrounds the central cylinder.

Ornamental Elements: These are minimized, and when they appear, they are not merely decorative. The niches at the top and bottom are the source of light. The shield continues the vertical line created by the niche and the entrance to the lower level. The frieze decorated with triglyphs and metopes refers to the martyrdom of the Apostle.

Conclusions: It is a building of great monumentality, despite its small proportions. Bramante's building took shape based on ideal prototypes of geometric figures (circle), combined with elements of classical architecture. The rigorous conception of unity is appreciated, which is expressed not only in the central plan but also in each part of the elevation. The Tempietto marks the starting point of small-scale architectural research.