Column of the Immaculate Conception

The ancient Roman column became the base of a Christian monument in 1800. Pope Pius IX pronounced the creed of the Immaculate Conception and had a statue of the Madonna placed on the top of the column. Since then, the Immacolata is celebrated on 8 December, when a fireman climbs up to the statue and places a garland of flowers around her. In earlier times, Pope Pius himself would climb up to pay homage to the statue.