Interior view

From the octagonal vestibule in the centre, Italy’s largest ceremonial staircase ascends at right angles. Its rather austere decoration may be fashioned after Versailles, but the staircase hall as such and the staircase with its central flight leading to a broad landing from where two flights turn along the walls and end under a screen of three arches - all this is North Italian, which ultimately points back to Longhena’s scenographic staircase in San Giorgio Maggiore.

The picture shows the staircase.