St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

St Peter's Square is a great place to hang out in Rome and a trip here wouldn't be complete without seeing St Peter's Basilica, which stands behind the square.

People come from near and far just to see Saint Peter's Basilica, Seat of the Catholic religion. This well known basilica is one of Rome's most famous attractions and is renowned to be the traditional burial site of Saint Peter. His tomb is below the baldachin and altar; for this reason, many Popes, starting with the first ones, have been buried there, including Pope John Paul II in 2005. The altar also holds a relic of the Cathedra Petri, which is, according to Catholic tradition, the episcopal throne of St. Peter.

Built between 1506 to 1626 on the ruins of the Old Saint Peter's Basilica (4th cent.), this incredible attraction is not only enormous but also holds several striking memorials and monuments within it. The Basilica covers an area of 5.7 acres and can hold over 60,000 people. It is filled with many masterpieces and unfortunately, it is impossible to view them all in just one visit. Highlights of this visit are three attractions, namely Michelangelo's Pieta, the superb dome originally designed by Michelangelo, and thirdly, the famous 29m high baroque baldachin by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which can be found over the main altar. Included are the "Holy Door," Raphael's Transfiguration, the enthroned statue of St. Peter, and the preserved bodies of Popes Pius X and John XXIII.

Piazza San Pietro, designed by Bernini in the 17th century with large crowds in mind, is round in shape, very spacious, with two enormous columns (Tuscan colonnades) defining the outline of the square. These columns are supported by four rows of Doric pillars that are 60ft tall.

There is a 13th century b.c. Egyptian obelisk standing in the center of the square. The Vatican obelisk is the only obelisk in Rome that has not toppled since the Roman times - that's a feat in itself. This obelisk is made from red granite and stands 25.5m tall. This magnificent structure is supported on bronze lions and it is said that the gilt ball on top of the obelisk contains the ashes of Rome's most famous emperor, Julius Caesar himself.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• St.
• Peter
• Basilica
• Rome
• Vatican
• Italy
• Michelangelo
• Bernini
• Pope
• JohnXXIII
• PiusX
• Pieta
• Piazza
• Square

[MzProgressive]

Great pictures, thanks for sharing. I thought cameras weren't allowed in the Vatican. Did they change the rule?

However, I'm a little horrified to see the dead pope's bodies! Eeewwww! They did their service, let them rest in glory - not as some macabre curiosity! (Must make the present day Pontiffs cringe.)

[peterdedem]

@igotChalupas09 you can see it as art. Religion is based on what happens after life. that's a big mystery so anyone could make up stories in the past. in real life nobody sees something from these things except the church and the pope. But that's no hard evidence.

Nice church though

[LoriAMeyers]

This place was awesome. We visited Rome this summer.

[LoriAMeyers]

Dolt.

[milopichu11]

Do you love taking pictures?

What do you do to the pictures of your loved ones who has passed away? We usually embrace it right? But is it your loved ones that you're hugging? It's the picture, not the person, but the picture remind you of Him, and when you embrace the picture, the loved one in Heaven, looking at you, is still reminded that you loved him.

It's just the same with the statues. BUT TAKE NOTE that we do not worship the statue. It reminds us of the person.

[asands123]

oh stfu. you sound like a moron

[durango238]

Touching his feet for blessing and salvation? That is HETETICAL and a statute cannot hear, see, or talk thru the throat. Glad I don't go to a statute to get blessings and salvation. I go to Jesus who is the MIGHTY God and all the fulness of the GODHEAD IS IN HIM.

[igotChalupas09]

I like it a lot, it is so cool and I give GOD ALL THE GLORY!!!!

[rosepearlie]

I visited this place when I was nine. Cool chapel!

[marrieter08]

the music ruined everything... it would be more suitable if it is a gregorian chant or a bach cantata... but beethoven's scherzo.???!!?