This is a Grand Tour brooch, a late 19th century era souvenir from Italy.

Tourists in Rome visited the plaza of St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro ) in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, which is depicted with Bernini’s stunning colonnade and the beautiful fountains on the square.

It looks like a painting, the workmanship is so fine. Thousands of tiny tesserae. The mosaic is set in a black opal glass.

A product of the 1800s Grand Tour, this would have been a treasure memento of someones visit to Italy. Circa This work with the tiniest of tiles is not done anymore and was only done for a short period of time in Italy from 1830-1870.

The brooch is in gilt metal, this antique bijoux looks fabulous, even though it shows an old restoration, it is in a good age related condition.