Baldachins

A baldachin, also spelled baldacchino, is a ceremonial canopy placed over a sacred space, typically over an altar, tomb, or royal throne. It is usually supported by four columns or posts and may be hung from the ceiling or freestanding. The term derives from the Italian baldacchino, meaning a canopy or baldaquin, and has long been used in liturgical architecture to signify a space of special reverence. The canopy can be of fabric, embroidered or damask, or of more permanent materials such as wood or metal, frequently gilded or decorated with heraldry, sculpture, or metalwork.

Most commonly found in churches, baldachins were developed in medieval and Renaissance Europe and later refined in the Baroque period. They serve to frame and emphasize the high altar, a bishop’s throne, or the tomb of important figures, and they help denote the liturgical focus. The form varies from light cloth canopies supported on slender columns to monumental bronze or stone structures.

A landmark example is the Baldachin of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and completed in the 1630s. This large bronze canopy stands above the main altar and the pope’s cathedra, symbolizing sacred space within the church.

In secular settings, baldachins have been used to honor royalty or distinguished persons during ceremonies and can appear as stage canopies or ceremonial thrones.