St Peter's Rome

St Peter's Rome: Heart of Christendom

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St Peter's Rome: History
According to tradition St. Peter's Basilica was built at the place where Peter, the apostle known as the first Roman pope, was martyred. In fact his tomb is under the main altar of the basilica.  Other popes are also buried in the crypt of the basilica. St. Peter's Basilica was built in an area devoted to the Circus of Nero. When Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity in 324 A.D. the construction of a great basilica began. In the 15th century Pope Nicholas V ordered that the old basilica be rebuilt . Anyway, the work on the current building began under Pope Julius II in 1506 and was completed in 1615. Donato Bramante was committed to the direction of the work. Bramante's plan for the dome of St. Peter's (1506) follows that of the Pantheon very closely, and like that of the Pantheon, was designed to be constructed in concrete. In time other artists worked on this famous architectural complex: Sangallo, Michelangelo, who designed the majestic dome, Bernini, the author of the great St. Peter's Square and of some furnishings such as the Canopy and internal niches placed inside the basilica, Carlo Maderno, the architect of the façade, Giacomo della Porta and Fontana who completed the dome.

St Peter's Rome: Description
A central elliptical square designed by Bernini in the XVII century contains two beautiful fountains, one by Carlo Maderno and the other by Bernini. At the centre of the square there is an Egyptian obelisk dating back to the XIII century. The square is sourrounded by a colonnade by Bernini: it has a great symbolic value becuase it represents the Christian Church embracing humanity. On the top of the colonnade there are 140 statues representing Christian saints. Near the steps to the basilica some colossal statues of St. Peter and St. Paul, the two Roman patrons, are placed. The dome of St. Peter's was designed by Michelangelo in 1546 and was conceived as a parabola. Today a spiral staircase leads to the top of the dome where you can admire a wonderful view of the Vatican State and of Rome. After Michelangelo’s death (1564), the dome was finished by the architect Giacomo della Porta with the help of Domenico Fontana. As regards the façade in ploychrome marble it was designed by Carlo Maderno, it is 116 meters wide and 53 meters high. It was built between 1600 and 1614. The façade contains 13 statues in travertine and the Loggia of the Blessings which is destined to the announcement of the new pope. The basilica can contain 20,000 people. The Holy Door stands on the right, engraved in bronze by the sculptor Vico Consorti in 1950. This door is opened and closed during every Jubilee Year. The interiors, characterized by huge mosaics, gather some of the most famous art works from all over the world such as Bernini’s canopy which has four colossal, twisted columns, decorated with olive and laurel branches and Michelangelo’s famous Pietà dating back to 1499. The nave has huge pilasters, each one has niches with 39 statues of saints, founders of various religious orders and congregations. The vault was decorated with gold stuccos in 1780.

St Peter's Rome: How to Arrive
You can reach St Peter's in Rome by the Rome Metro (Ottaviano-San Pietro stop, line A) or by train, line F3.

St Peter's Rome: What to See
If you also want to visit Vatican City or the Vatican Museums, you are in the right place. Visiting all of these places should take an entire day.

St peter's Rome: Where to Eat
There are a number of Restaurants in Rome in the nearby Borgo neighborhood.

More and different things to come on St Peter's Rome.
 

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