The tradition of setting up niches in streets dates back to the Roman era. In Christian times, images of Christ, Our Lady and Christian Saints, replaced those of Roman Gods. These niches were often decorated and lit, thus paying homage to the image within, as well as providing some illumination during the night.
1569 Grandmaster Pietro del Monte enacted that corner houses had to display some architectural ornamentation such as a statue, a niche, or a coat of arms. Hence, the fairly considerable number of corner statues and niches in the Cottonera Region were established after this date. |
