In front of the old Jesuit College as early as 1640, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Jesuit order, a votive column of wood was built, replaced in 1658 by a column in stone. On top of it was placed a new statue of Saint Ignazio made by Leonardo Pacassi. At the foot of the statue there is coat of arms of Andrea di Porcia,  a Knight of Malta who commissioned the sculpture. During the bombings the statue was beheaded by grenade shrapnel.