Pilgrims ascend the Holy Stairs on their knees. The Scala Sancta (or Scala Santa; l'Escalier Saint; Heilige Stiege) are 28 white marble steps encased in wooden ones. According to Roman Catholic tradition; the Holy Stairs were the steps leading up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus Christ stepped on his way to trial during his Passion. The Stairs reputedly were brought to Rome by Saint Helena in the fourth century. It is located in an edifice proximate to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano; basilique Saint-Jean de Latran; Lateranbasilika ). Rome; Italy (2020)