Bramante Stairs

The Bramante Stairs is a double helix staircase, meaning it consists of two independent helical stairs in the same vertical space, allowing one person to ascend and another to descend, without ever meeting if they choose different helices. This spectacular staircase is found when leaving the Vatican Museum—the day I visited one of the helical stairs was closed to traffic, and the other was pretty busy.

Bramante Stairs (Looking Up) © Harold Davis
Bramante Stairs (Looking Up) © Harold Davis
Bramante Stair (Looking Down) © Harold Davis
Bramante Stairs (Looking Down) © Harold Davis

Related story: Sistine Chapel Ceiling.

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