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How many people can St. Peter's Square accommodate? St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican: why it is worth visiting the main Catholic church in the world

The Vatican (Latin name Status Civitatis Vaticanæ, Italian - Stato della Citta del Vaticano) is an independent state. The sources also contain the name Vatican City State. It is the smallest officially recognized state in the world. In international law, the Vatican has the status of an auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See and the seat of the highest spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Vatican is a building. However, this is not true. The Vatican is a separate territory on which St. Peter's Basilica, the large central St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, the papal gardens and a complex of buildings consisting of museums, palaces, houses, administrative and utility buildings are located. In addition, on the territory of the Vatican State there is a helipad, its own Vatican or, as it is also called, papal post office, several gas stations, the oldest pharmacy in the world, a fire station, a library, a supermarket and even the shortest Railway in the world.

All this is surrounded by the Vatican wall. From the outside, the wall looks more like residential buildings, perhaps because the houses stand close to the wall, or maybe because the wall is these houses. The total length of the wall and, accordingly, the state border of the Vatican is only 3.2 kilometers. Imagine what a dwarf state this is!

Geographically, the state is located in Rome, so it is like a state within a state, a city within a city. Located on Vatican Hill in the northwestern part of Rome, a few hundred meters from the Tiber River. To visit the Vatican you do not need to obtain any additional special visas or permits. If you are in Rome, you can easily visit the Vatican. Of course, you won’t be allowed into the gardens or on the territory of the papal estates, but going to St. Peter’s Basilica or strolling through the largest museum complex in the world, which is formed by the Vatican palaces, is quite possible.

Residents of the Vatican also have the corresponding Vatican citizenship. It would be more correct to say that they have dual citizenship - the Vatican and their own, where they come from. Obtaining Vatican citizenship is quite difficult, it is even impossible for an ordinary person, since Vatican citizenship is received only by the highest ranks of the Catholic Church from the pope's entourage. Even official residents of the Vatican are not all citizens.

The main Vatican Cathedral rises majestically above the state. It can be seen from many points in Rome.

The complex of Vatican buildings, which we can see from St. Peter's Square, has beautiful architecture with figures and patterns made of stucco.

St. Peter's Square

Arriving at the Vatican, the first place you come to is St. Peter's Square, also called Piazza San Pietro (Italian name Piazza San Pietro). The area is the largest and central area not only the Vatican, but all of Rome.

This area is of enormous size in the form of two symmetrical semicircles. Along the perimeter on both sides, the square is framed by semicircular colonnades of the Tuscan order, designed by Giovanni Bernini himself.

In the center of the square is a monument of architecture and history, a tall twenty-five-meter Egyptian obelisk.

Services and ceremonies take place in the square. The head of the entire Catholic Church, the Pope, takes part in many of them.

During services, chairs are placed on the square, and the entrance to the square is strictly through security and metal detectors.

Here, in the central Catholic square of the world, crowds of believers gather to listen to the speeches of the pontiff. And we did not ignore this spectacle; we attended one of the services on Sunday. There was just so many people of all ages gathered, it was impossible to squeeze through.

Service procession

The central and most beautiful building of the square is St. Peter's Cathedral or St. Peter's Basilica (Latin name Basilica Sancti Petri, Italian - Basilica di San Pietro). It is the main Catholic cathedral in the world, the central and largest building of the Vatican, as well as the largest historical Christian church in the world.

The cathedral is a great and significant monument of architecture and history of the Renaissance. The greatest masters of all times worked on its creation - Raphael, Michelangelo, Bramante and Bernini.

Cathedral of St. Petra was officially recognized as the greatest creation of world architecture.

After you visit St. Peter's Square, the most beautiful St. Basilica appears before you. Petra. The cathedral is located right on the square, being the most beautiful and main structure of the square. It is here that thousands of tourists and pilgrims flock every year.

The entrance to the Cathedral is here, on the right side of the square. To get inside the Temple, you need to stand in a long line, sometimes the line goes around the entire square. But don’t worry, the line moves quite quickly. Despite the large crowd of people, we stood for only 15 minutes. When entering the Cathedral, you go through a metal detector and security; the security does not allow people with bare shoulders, both men and women, to pass through. It’s customary to enter a Catholic church only with covered shoulders. In front of us, several young people in T-shirts were turned back. I was also wearing a T-shirt, but the people standing in line with us warned us in time and we bought a scarf in a nearby store.

Representatives of travel agencies scurry around the square and offer to take you to the temple and museums without queuing for money - 20-25 euros. A deception, of course, designed for an ignorant tourist. Entrance to the cathedral and museums is already free; although there seem to be a lot of people, the queue moves quickly. So it's not worth paying them money.

St. Peter's Cathedral is huge and majestic, with many richly decorated halls, decorated with mosaic patterns, stucco, gilding and high semicircular vaults. When you go inside, everything you see is simply breathtaking; it’s very difficult to describe what you feel. This is enthusiastic joy, admiration, surprise, and a certain thrill from personal touching one of the greatest creations of man, concealing within itself the spirit of past centuries. This is not a program for you to watch on TV...

The Basilica contains many altars, tombstones and statues, as well as many wonderful works of art.

For an additional fee you can climb the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica. To do this, you need to exit the Cathedral and on the right side there will be an entrance to the dome. Entrance is paid, you can go up on foot, it costs 8 Euros per person, or you can take the elevator part of the way, paying 10 Euros per person. We, of course, went on foot.

Be sure to go up to the dome, it's worth it!!!

First, the ascent is carried out along a wide and spacious staircase. Then you go out onto the open terrace, part of the path has been covered. The elevator also arrives here. Then everyone walks. There is also a souvenir shop where you can buy magnets, sculptures and other goods with the symbols of the Vatican.

Further, along the spiral staircase encircling the dome, the ascent is carried out to the dome of the Cathedral itself. The staircase becomes narrower and acquires a slope characteristic of the dome shape. And at first you walk straight, and then you have to bend.

Having climbed right under the dome, you can see up close the vault of the dome decorated with paintings, and also look from above at the halls of the Cathedral, simply beautiful. Note that the dome of the Cathedral rises to a height of 136.57 meters from the floor of the basilica to the top topped with a cross, this is the tallest dome in the world.

Having admired the architecture of the dome, we go out to the open observation deck.

Papal, Vatican Gardens

We went out to the observation deck of the dome of Peter's Cathedral. And here the most beautiful panorama of the Papal Gardens opens up to your eyes, they are also called the Vatican Gardens.

These gardens are among the most protected places in the world. These are the most beautiful gardens in Europe and a place where you can relax, of course, only for a select few))

In the gardens you can see many lawns, fountains and greenery. And of course, residences and administrative buildings. Just imagine, in the morning, when the sun is not yet high and not so warm, dad or someone else leisurely walks along the alleys of the gardens with a cup of hot aromatic coffee in their hands, admiring the fountains, listening to the water gurgling in them and the birds singing, and there is silence all around, peace and tranquility...

In addition to the gardens, the dome offers an equally beautiful view of Rome.

We spent a long time looking for the chimney from which smoke comes out when choosing the next monarch. We saw only one pipe in the area. It seems that this is the very pipe from which, when choosing a new Pope, if the meeting of cardinals comes to a unanimous opinion, smoke comes from the burning ballots, indicating the results of the vote. Moreover, if the decision is not made, then the color of the smoke is black, and if it is accepted, and the pope is elected, then it is white. After all, voting is a secret and closed procedure, and only through smoke can one learn about the election of the Pope.

Papal Post or Vatican Post

In the square, to the right of St. Peter's Basilica, there is the Vatican post office. This is one of the most reliable and fastest mail in the world. The delivery time for letters anywhere in the world is 24 hours.

You can go to the post office to select a postcard and, for an additional fee, send news from the Vatican to your friends or acquaintances. The Post Office delivers approximately 8.5 million letters and postcards annually.

The post office also sells commemorative stamps. Commemorative stamps are issued for various occasions - the election of a new pope, holidays, in honor of Vatican Day, the birthday of the Pope and other similar events. The sale of stamps is the main and very profitable activity of the papal post office.

Now we will tell you a little about other places that are also located in the Vatican. Naturally, no one would let us get inside, so there are no photographs. Entrance to these places is only with special passes issued strictly to citizens of the Vatican, and even then not to everyone. Why? Yes, because the prices there are amazingly low, and the quality is amazingly awesome.

Vatican Pharmacy

The Vatican Pharmacy is the oldest in the world and is located near the Porta Sant'Anna. It is in this pharmacy that you can find the rarest medicines in the world. Medicines are available by prescription.

Since there are no taxes in the Vatican, the cost of all medications in the pharmacy is 12-25% lower than in other pharmacies in Italy and Europe. Medicines are sold here as if under a duty free system.

Thanks to low prices and a large assortment of rare and unique drugs, the pharmacy is very popular among the residents of Rome, but obtaining permission to visit it is not easy for persons not related to the Vatican. Such a permit is issued only if the required medicine is not available in pharmacies in Italy or another European country and the applicant has a prescription for it. To obtain permission to purchase medicines at a pharmacy, one prescription is not enough; you must also fill out a certain application and, in addition to the prescription, present a passport or other identification document. For the highest church clergy and Vatican employees, such permission, of course, is not required.

Vatican Supermarket

There is only one supermarket in the Vatican, but it's a great one. The quality of the goods is high, and the prices are much lower than in other stores in Rome. But only people with a special DIRESCO pass issued by the city governor have the right to visit and shop in this supermarket.

Vatican trading house

The Vatican Trading House is located in a former railway station. Entry is also limited. In the trading house, or our shopping center, you can find a wide range of electronics goods and expensive watches. As in the supermarket, all goods of the trading house are 20-40% cheaper than outside the Vatican territory.

Gas stations in the Vatican

There are several gas stations located on the Vatican territory. I think you have already guessed that only people close to the Pope with special permission can use them, and fuel prices are 30-35% cheaper than in all of Italy.

This time we didn’t manage to get into the Vatican Museums; by evening we were already tired. Next time we will definitely visit all the museums and tell you about them on the pages of this blog. If you are planning your trip to Rome, then set aside a couple of days for the Vatican. Since it is so beautiful and unusual that one day will not be enough to perceive it, and running around just to get everything done, you will agree, is not the best idea.

(Raffaello Santi). Since then and to this day, the basilica has been the most significant Catholic church on the planet, annually attracting millions of parishioners to services conducted by the Pope himself.

In the 4th century AD under Emperor Constantine I (lat. Flavius ​​Valerius Aurelius Constantinus), a Romanesque basilica was erected in Rome. The only thing that has survived from early Christian buildings is the monument marking the middle of St. Peter's Square, located in front of the temple.

According to Christian chronicles, the Apostle Peter (Greek: Απόστολος Πέτρος) suffered martyrdom around 64-67 AD. in Rome. The first altar of the first basilica was erected over the tomb of a follower of Christ in 313.

The Basilica of Constantine went through several reconstructions and by the 16th century had become significantly dilapidated. Pontiff Julius II (lat. Iulius II) set Donato Bramante an interesting task - to restore the ancient Christian temple and, if possible, preserve its original potential. According to the architect's idea, the updated basilica was supposed to be a large cross topped with a dome.

The spacious building with high vaults was supposed to embody the heavenly lightness of the temple, but Bramante’s death in 1514 postponed the implementation of the project indefinitely.

During Bramante's lifetime, in 1513, Rafael Santi became the second architect of the temple. Fra Giocondo was sent to help the famous master, and he in turn was replaced by Giuliano da Sangallo. The history of the creation of the temple was overshadowed by an amazing fact: during the 6 years of work on the project, three eminent masters died. Beginning in 1506, St. Peter's Cathedral received only the foundation and partly the lower wall tier, which was later dismantled.

Over the course of 40 years, the drawings of the cathedral were transformed on paper, changing the shape of the building from the Greek equilateral cross to the Latin one and finally settled on the form of the basilica proposed by Antonio da Sangallo. In 1546, da Sangallo dies and Pope Paul III engages Michelangelo to be the curator of the construction of the temple. Taking into account the accumulation of architectural ideas of his predecessors, Buonarroti decides to return to Bramante’s original plan, simplifying and at the same time strengthening the design.

It was decided to make the basilica mass in the form of a central domed building, the entrance to which was hidden by a portico draped with columns, following the example of ancient temples. Also, according to the tradition of the ancient builders, the central entrance of the temple was located on the eastern side.

During Michelangelo's lifetime, construction progressed significantly, even the drum of the dome was built.

However The genius did not have time to complete his grandiose project, in 1564 death interrupted Buonarroti's work.

Giacomo Della Porta continued work on the cathedral, making his own adjustments to Michelangelo's plan. Elements of the proto-Baroque style appeared, more elongated shapes, which is especially noticeable in the drawings of the dome drum. Buonarroti's ideas were realized in their pure form only during the construction of the western part of the temple.

By 1588, the Porte's affairs, in collaboration with Domenico Fontana, implemented a plan for preparatory work for the construction of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. In subsequent For 2 years all the efforts of engineers and builders were concentrated on creating the main vault of the temple. Already in May 1590, Pope Sixtus V celebrated a solemn mass in the newly built cathedral.

During the summer months, a colonnade of 36 decorative columns was built, however, Sixtus V did not have time to admire the external decoration of the church, dying in August 1590. A golden lantern in the shape of a ball and a large cross over the dome of the temple were installed already under Clement VIII (lat. Clemente VIII).

The inspiration for the next round of construction of St. Peter's Cathedral was Pope Paul V. In 1605 he called on Carlo Maderno to rework the plan for the cathedral.

Greek cross, in the appearance of the building, embodied by Michelangelo, was converted to Latin, due to the lengthening of the longitudinal part.

Side naves were also added, so the temple turned into a three-nave basilica. Updated the church took on a completely different look from that originally conceived by Michelangelo– today, standing in the center of the square near the obelisk, you will see only part of the dome, and coming closer to the cathedral, you might think that this is a palace, not a church.

Description

St. Peter's Cathedral has impressive parameters: about 211 meters in length and height, including the dome - 132 m, the total area of ​​the temple is 23 thousand m 2.

Such an impressive size of the cathedral allows it to leave its closest competitors far behind. Markers with the dimensions of other Catholic churches are placed on the floor so that visitors can appreciate the monumentality of the building.

Facade

The modern facade of the cathedral was completed by the architect Carlo Moderna in the 17th century. The baroque façade covered with travertine has a respectable width of 118 m and a height of 48 m.

Classical columns support an attic topped with 13 statues. A five-meter statue of Christ, surrounded by John the Baptist and 11 apostles, adorns the front of St. Peter's Basilica. The facade of the temple is also decorated with a clock created in the 18th century by Giuseppe Valadier.

Hidden behind the columns of the portico are five gates leading inside. cathedral: Gate of Death (Porta della Morte), Gate of Good and Evil (Porta del Bene del Male), Gate of Filarete (Porta del Filarete), Gate of the Sacraments (Porta dei Sacramenti), Holy Gate (Porta Santa). The most notable of these is the Door of Death, created in the mid-20th century by sculptor Giacomo Manzu. It is through these doors that the Vatican sends its pontiffs on their final journey.

The central portal of the cathedral is decorated with two equestrian statues: Charlemagne, made in the 18th century. Augustino Cornacchini and Emperor Constantine, by Bernini (1670). Another pearl of the temple’s exterior is the Navicella degli Apostoli fresco, painted by Giotto di Bondone, completed in the 13th century.

Interior

St. Peter's Basilica has an impressive interior space, which is divided between three naves. Arched vaults 23 m high and about 13 m wide separate the central nave from the side ones. The gallery, 90 m long and with an area of ​​about 2500 m2, begins at the entrance to the temple and ends at the altar. In the last arch of the central nave there is a miraculous statue of St. Peter, cast in bronze, to which thousands of pilgrims flock.

The Vatican, represented by the cathedral, acquired a repository of the most valuable works of art, from the floor to the tip of the dome. The marble floors of the temple partially preserved elements of the former basilica, reconstructed in the 13th century.

The disk of red Egyptian porphyry on which Charlemagne knelt during his coronation in 800, as well as most of the rulers of Europe until the 15th century, attracts attention.

Many interior decor elements were created with the participation of , who spent 50 years of his creative life decorating the cathedral. One of his significant works is the statue of the Roman centurion Longinus. According to legend, a centurion, suffering from very poor eyesight, pierced the crucified Christ to ensure the death of the son of God. The blood of Christ fell on Longinus’s eyes and he immediately received his sight.. After some time, Longinus converted to Christianity, actively preached, and is now revered as one of the main Christian saints.

St. Peter's Basilica contains the spearhead of a Roman centurion as one of its relics.

Above the altar of the temple lies another masterpiece of Bernini - an extensive canopy (cevorium), resting on four figured pillars. The canopy was created under Urban VIII; many decorative elements glorify the aristocratic family of the pontiff. The fabulous cost of the master’s work was covered from the treasury of the Burberry family, but bronze and other building materials were shamelessly taken from the Pantheon (Greek: πάνθειον).

To this day there is a saying in Rome: “What the barbarians did not do, Bernini and Barberini did.”

Above the canopy is a pulpit dedicated to St. Peter, also designed by Bernini.

If you walk along the central nave of the cathedral, in the niches you can admire the statues of saints: Teresa, Helena Sophia Barat, St. Vincenzo de Paoli, John, St. Philip Neri, St. John Baptista de La Salle, St. John Bosco.

Right nave

Pieta

In the right nave of the temple there is a sculptural group “” (Lamentation of Christ) by the young Michelangelo (1499).

To protect the work of art from the harmful effects of temperature fluctuations, dust, humidity, as well as careless visitors, the statue is covered with a durable glass cover. In 1972, a religious fanatic caused serious damage to the masterpiece with a hammer!

Monument to Pontiff Leo XII

Next to the Pieta there is a monument to Pontiff Leo XII by Giuseppe de Fabris (19th century) and a monument to Christina, Princess of Sweden made by Carl Fontana in the 17th century.

In the Cappella di San Sebastiano you can admire the mosaics made by Pier Paolo Cristofari, based on sketches by Domenichino himself. The vault of the chapel is decorated with a mosaic by Pietro da Cortona.

Tomb of Margravine Matilda of Canossa

A unique monument is the tomb of Margravine Matilda of Canossa, made by Bernini. The aristocrat was the first woman buried in the temple.

Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament

The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento) is decorated with a decorative grille created from sketches (Francesco Borromini). Inside the chapel there is bronze work by Carlo Moderno, Borromini architecture.

Left nave

Tomb of Alexander VII (lat. Alexander VII)

Bernini's last significant work adorns the tomb of Alexander VII of the Chigi family. The ensemble, made of colored marble and bronze, depicts the pontiff in prayer, surrounded by allegorical statues of Mercy, Truth, Justice and Prudence. In front of Alexander VII is a skeleton wrapped in a red robe - a symbol of death.

In the skeleton's hand there is an hourglass - a metaphor for the end of the pontiff's earthly life.

The baroque ensemble is filled with theatrical drama and full of secret meaning. Thus, one of the virtues is depicted standing on the globe. It is by no means accidental that the stone foot covers England. By the 17th century, the schism between the Catholic and Anglican churches had reached its climax. British Stuart monarchs renounced their crown in order to remain faithful to the Catholic faith. This whole contradictory situation was artistically played out by Bernini in stone. The Stuart tomb is now located inside the cathedral to the left of the entrance.

Chapel of Epiphany

In the left nave is the Chapel of the Epiphany (Cappella del Battesimo), designed by Carl Fontana and decorated with mosaics by Baciccio. Nearby is the tomb of Maria Clementina Sobieski, decorated by sculptor Pietro Bracci in the 18th century. Adjacent to it is a memorial to the Stuarts, by Atonio Canova (19th century). An interesting work by the 15th century Florentine architect Antonio Pollaiolo is the tomb of Pontiff Innocent VIII.

Center

The central space of the cathedral is limited by four pillars supporting the dome. This part of the temple was realized in accordance with the ideas of Michelangelo. In the very heart of the church you can see many mosaic paintings made according to Domenichino's sketches.


Of particular awe is the memorial to Pius VII, made in the 19th century by a non-Catholic creator, Bertel Thorvaldsen. St. Peter's Basilica has a Gregorian Chapel (Gregoriana Cappella), which reminds us of who gave humanity the Gregorian calendar. The numerous tombs of pontiffs and richly decorated chapels make an indelible impression on parishioners.

Dome

  • Metro: line A, stop Ottaviano (closer to museums)
  • by tram: No. 19, San Pietro stop 200 meters from the cathedral;
  • by bus: No. 23, 32, 81, 590, 982, N11, Risorgimento stop, No. 64 and 40 express routes from (Termini) to St. Peter's Basilica, No. 116, Terminal Gianicolo stop;
  • by regional train: Roma San Pietro station (closer to the square), train runs from Roma Trastevere station, ticket 1 euro.

Colonnade of St. Peter
The square is framed by semicircular colonnades of the Tuscan order, designed by Bernini, which, in combination with the cathedral, form the symbolic shape of the “key of St. Peter”.
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Vatican Obelisk
It is generally accepted that the idea of ​​​​using obelisks as elements of urban architecture belongs to Pope Sixtus V. It was he who, when arranging the most famous squares of the city center, often ordered the installation of obelisks topped with crosses, which was evidence of the continuity of Ancient, pagan Rome and New - Christian Rome. It is interesting that in order to raise the obelisk installed in the center of St. Peter's Square (the general design of the architect Domenico Fontana, in the summer of 1586 it was necessary to first build an oak tower. This nameless obelisk, brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula (37-41 AD) , was originally installed in the center of the Circus of Nero, located on the territory of the imperial gardens - now the Vatican, exactly where the Apostle Peter was tortured and then executed... The process of erecting the obelisk is depicted both in an ancient engraving and on a fresco in the Hall of the Papal Archives Vatican Library.
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The obelisk is made of red granite, it soars to a height of 25.5 m. Four bronze lions by Prospero Antici are installed on the pedestal. The inscription reads: "Ecce Crucem Domini! Fugite partes adversae! Vicit Leo de tribu Iuda, Radix David! Alleluia!", which in translation reads: "Behold the Cross of the Lord. All evil forces are gone. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has won! Hallelujah !". This little prayer was given to St. Anthony to a poor woman who sought help against the temptations of the devil. The prayer, called the "Motto of St. Anthony", became popular among Franciscans over the centuries. Pope Sixtus V, himself a Franciscan, said a prayer at the base of the obelisk he erected in St. Peter's Square in Rome in 1585.
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Remarkable facts. This is the only ancient obelisk in Rome that has never fallen. Initially, the tip of the obelisk was crowned with a copper ball, in which, according to legend, the ashes of Julius Caesar were kept. Then a cross took its place. In 1740, wooden remains of what was considered the original cross of Christ were mounted into the base of the cross. Fragments of the relic are also inserted into the cross rising above the dome of the cathedral.
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Two fountains And
Two identical fountains are located at the northern and southern focal points of the square, respectively.
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Statue of the Apostle Peter
The statue of the Apostle Peter was created by the sculptor Giuseppe de Fabris in 1838-1840. and installed under Pope Pius IX. The Apostle Peter holds two keys in his right hand, and in his left hand an unfolded scroll on which is written: “Et tibi dabo claves regni Caelorum” (“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven”). The height of the monument is 5.55 m, and the pedestal is 4.91 m.
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Apostle Paul Statue
The statue of the Apostle Paul was sculpted in 1838 by the sculptor Adamo Tadolini and erected under Pope Pius IX. The apostle holds a sword in his right hand and an unfolded scroll in his left. Both monuments were restored in 1985-1986 thanks to the generosity of the Knights of Columbus.
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Saint Paul's Cathedral
St. Peter's Basilica is a Catholic cathedral, the central and largest building of the Vatican, the largest historical Christian church in the world. One of the four patriarchal basilicas of Rome and the ceremonial center of the Roman Catholic Church. It ranks first among the seven pilgrimage basilicas of Rome. Several generations of great masters worked on its creation: Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and others. The capacity of the cathedral is about 60 thousand people + up to 400 thousand people gather in the square on holidays.
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Remarkable facts. Not a single piece of marble from St. Petra was not quarried from modern quarries; all the material for its construction was taken from ancient buildings, some of which, for the sake of a few pieces, were razed to the ground. Papal architects, like “destroying meteors,” scoured the surroundings of the Roman Forum in search of building material.
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Facade
The height of the facade, built by the architect Carl Maderna, is 48 m, excluding the height of the statues, the width is 118.6 m. From the portico, five portals lead to the cathedral.
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The attic of the facade is crowned with huge, 5.65 m high, statues of Christ, John the Baptist and the eleven apostles (except for the Apostle Peter). John the Baptist is at the right hand of Christ.
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At the edges of the facade, the attic ends with a clock and on the left with a bell tower with 6 bells.
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The middle of the nine balconies on the facade is called Loggia of Blessings. It is from here that the Pope addresses the numerous believers gathering in St. Peter, with the blessing "Urbi et Orbi" - "To the City and the World".
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Before going inside the cathedral, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the diagram. The figure is clickable; clicking will open a diagram with a legend. In the following, the text will indicate in square brackets the numbers of positions corresponding to this scheme.
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Cathedral portico
Five portals lead from the portico to the cathedral.
Left gate - Gate of Death. The reliefs of the Gates of Death were created in 1949-1964. famous sculptor Giacomo Manzu. The Doors of Death are so named because it was through these doors that funeral processions usually exited. 10 scenes on the doors express the Christian meaning of death.
Gate of good and evil created in 1975-1977. by sculptor Luciano Minguzzi on the occasion of the eightieth birthday of Pope Paul VI. Evil is represented by a picture of martyrs during a partisan massacre in 1943.
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Doors of the central portal ( Filaret Gate) were made by the Florentine master Antonio Averulin, known as Filaret in 1445, and come from the old basilica. At the top of the doors there are large figures of the Savior and the Mother of God sitting on the throne. In the center are the apostles Peter and Paul. The lower part depicts scenes of the trial of Nero and the subsequent execution of the apostles: the beheading of St. Paul and the crucifixion of St. Petra.
Gate of Mysteries. Created in 1965 by Venantius Crocetti, commissioned by Pope Paul VI on the occasion of the re-opening of the Second Vatican Council.
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Holy Gate(Holy Door) created by Vico Consorti in 1949. From inside the cathedral, the Holy Door is walled up with concrete; a bronze cross and a small box are attached to the concrete, in which the key to the door is stored. Every 25 years before Christmas, the concrete is broken before the anniversary year. After a special ritual, the Holy Door swings open and the Pope, taking the cross in his hands, is the first to enter the cathedral. At the end of the Jubilee Year, the door is closed again and sealed for the next 25 years. Above the gate from the inside there is a mosaic with the image of St. Petra.
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Opposite the Philaret Gate, above the entrance to the portico, there is a famous mosaic by Giotto from the end of the 13th century. "Navichella". The theme of the mosaic composition - the Miracle on Lake Genicapets - symbolically illustrates the mercy of Christ to the people. Jesus saves the boat with the apostles caught in a storm and the drowning Peter. The plot also symbolizes the very salvation of the Church from all possible misfortunes. In the portico of the modern church, only a copy of the baroque mosaic has been preserved and exhibited.
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Equestrian statue of Charlemagne the work of the sculptor Agustino Cornacchini (1725). Charlemagne was the first to be crowned in the cathedral in 800 in the left wing of the portico.
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At the end of the right wing of the portico there is equestrian statue of Constantine the Great works by Bernini. It was ordered by Pope Innocent X in 1654, but the work was completed only in 1670 under Pope Clement X, who ordered the statue to be placed near the stairs leading to the Vatican Palace. The sculpture depicts one of the episodes of the war between Constantine and Maxentius.
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Inside, the cathedral amazes with its harmony of proportions, its enormous size, and the richness of its decoration - there are a lot of statues, altars, tombstones, and many wonderful works of art.
Central nave
The total length of the basilica is 211.6 m. On the floor of the central nave there are marks showing the dimensions of other largest cathedrals in the world, which allows them to be compared with the Cathedral of St. Petra.
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Floor grille in bronze with the coat of arms of Pius XII, inserted into the floor of the nave of St. Peter's Basilica.
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Let's walk along the central nave from the entrance gate clockwise.
Statue of St. Peter of Alcantria- one of the initiators of ascetic reform in the Franciscan order ( Francisco Vergara, 1753).
Installed under the ceiling statue of st. Lucy Filippini, founder of 52 schools for young women, where they taught home economics, weaving, embroidery, reading and Christian doctrine ( Silvio Silva, 1949).
37.

Installed under the statue Fountain of Cherubs. There is a similar fountain on the opposite side of the nave.
38.

Statue of St. Camilla de Lellis, founder of the Camillian Order.
Under the ceiling - statue of st. Ludovica Maria Grignon de Montfort, author of numerous books and 164 hymns, founder of the Monfortan Society of the Virgin Mary.
39.

Statue of St. Ignatius de Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order ( Camillo Rusconi, 1733).
Under the ceiling - statue of st. Antonio Maria Zaccaria, founder of three religious orders ( Caesar Aureli, 1909).
40.

Statue of St. Francis of Paola, founder of the Order of Minims.
Under the ceiling - statue of st. Pierre Fourier, founder of the Congregation of Canosses ( Louis Noel Nicoli, 1899).
41.

Statue of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Artistically and symbolically depicted in a green robe, long-haired, with a beard and holding a cross, a symbol of his martyrdom.
42.

Statue of St. Veronica of Jerusalem (Francesco Mochi, 1629). Church tradition calls Veronica a pious Jewish woman who was not afraid to approach Jesus, who was carrying his cross, and give Him her cloth (a piece of cloth) to wipe His face. The "true image" of Jesus' face was left on the cloth.
43.

Main dome
The main dome, an architectural masterpiece, has a height of 119 m inside and a diameter of 42 m. It is supported by four powerful pillars. The dome of the cathedral rises to a height of 136.57 meters from the floor of the basilica to the top of the crowning cross. This is the tallest dome in the world. Its internal diameter is 41.47 meters, which is slightly less than that of its predecessor domes: the diameter of the dome of the Pantheon (Ancient Rome) is 43.3 meters, the diameter of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore from the early Renaissance is 44 meters, but it surpasses the dome of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, built in 537. It was the Pantheon and the Florence Cathedral that served as examples for the architects of St. Peter's Cathedral in terms of decisions on the construction of such a grandiose structure. The construction of the dome was started by Bramante and Sangallo, continued by Michelangelo and Giacomo Della Porta, and completed in 1590 in the last year of the reign of Pope Sixtus V by Giacomo Della Porta and Domenico Fontana.
44.

The inner surface of the dome is decorated with images of the four evangelists: Matthew - with the angel who led his hand when writing the Gospel ( Caesar Nebbia), Brand - with a lion ( Caesar Nebbia), John - with an eagle ( Giovanni de Vecci) and Luke - with an ox ( Giovanni de Vecci). The lion, eagle and ox are the so-called “apocalyptic beasts”, about which St. John the Theologian in the Apocalypse writes about the animals that surrounded the throne of God.
45.

Around the inner circumference of the dome there is an inscription two meters high: TV ES PETRVS ET SVPER HANC PETRAM AEDIFICABO ECCLESIAM MEAM. TIBI DABO CLAVES REGNI CAELORVM (You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church... and I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven). Under Pope Clement VIII the cross was put in place. This procedure took the whole day and was accompanied by the ringing of bells from all the churches in the city. At the ends of the cross crossbar there are two lead caskets, in one of which a particle of the Life-Giving Cross and the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called is placed, and in the second a medallion of the Lamb of God.
46.

In the under-dome space in front of the main altar there is Bernini’s masterpiece - a huge, 29 m high, canopy (ciborium) on four twisted columns, on which stand statues of angels by Francois Duquesnoy. One pair of angels holds symbols of the pope - keys and tiara, the other pair holds symbols of St. Paul - book and sword. Among the laurel branches on the upper parts of the columns are visible the heraldic bees of the Barberini family. The bronze for the ciborium was also taken from the Pantheon, having dismantled, on the orders of Pope Urban VIII, the structures that supported the roof of the portico. Although the canopy does not look particularly large in the interior of the cathedral, it is equal in height to a 4-story building. In the middle of the canopy stands the papal altar, so named because only the Pope can celebrate Mass in front of it. The altar is made of a large piece of marble brought from the forum of Emperor Nerva.
47.

In front of the altar there is a staircase leading down to the tomb of St. Petra. This descent is called Confessio (confessional), because it can be considered as a cut-out window in the confessional, through which believers could turn their gaze to the shrine, hidden deep underground, where part of the relics of St. Petra.
50.

Statue of St. Benedicta, founder of the Benedictine Order.
52.

Statue of St. Francis of Assisi (Carlo Monaldi, 1727), the founder of the mendicant order named after him - the Franciscan Order.
Under the ceiling - statue of st. Alfonso de Liguori (Pietro Tenerani, 1839), founder of the Congregation of the Holy Saviour.
53.

Monument (tombstone) of Pope Paul III(Guglielmo della Porta, 16th century). They say that the allegories of Justice and Prudence are like Dad's sister and mom. When creating the tombstone, della Porta may have used a sketch by Michelangelo, and the work on creating the tombstone itself most likely was carried out under the supervision of Michelangelo.
54.

Visible through the canopy is the building in the central apse, also designed by Bernini. Chair of St. Peter. Bernini decorated the throne with a magnificent bronze throne, which was carried by figures of two human heights, depicting the four Fathers of the Church: Ambrose and Augustine as representatives of the Roman Church, Athanasius and John Chrysostom - respectively, the Greek. From above, the throne was immersed in a sparkling golden light pouring from an oval glass window depicting a dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit - the divine source of papal infallibility. Golden rays extend from the image of a dove in all directions and pierce the swelling clouds populated by angels.
55.

Monument (tombstone) of the pope

It is called the “heart of the Vatican” and the “White Pearl”. Today the Cathedral is the main residence of the Pope, one of the main Catholic churches in the world. The size of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is simply amazing - a huge white dome under the blue sky of Rome...

History of construction, architectural style, photo

On the spot where the Basilica di San Pietro stands today, during the times Ancient Rome was the Circus of Nero- a place of cruel and bloody fun. The powerful emperor thirsted for spectacle. Fierce gladiator fights took place in the circus arena, and during the persecution of Christians, sometimes the emperor pitted one of them against the gladiator.

Such battles did not last long, and Christians died a martyr’s death, torn to pieces by the gladiator’s sword or the claws of animals... The Apostle Peter was once brought to one of these battles.. Nero ordered him to be crucified after the competition, but Peter asked for one thing - not to compare his execution with Christ’s. The emperor agreed, but fulfilled this request in a unique way - Peter was still crucified, but upside down.

There was no information about the burial place for a long time, until one day in the documents of one lawyer in 160 they found a mention of a monument over the grave of Peter. Peter was buried here, in the “circus” cemetery, where nameless victims of gladiatorial fights were buried.

The persecution of Christians stopped only after almost a century and a half, under Emperor Constantine. The emperor issued a decree to build a basilica at the burial site of Peter in honor of the first Christians who suffered for their faith, and to name it after the apostle. The first altar of the basilica was erected in 313, right at the burial site of Peter. After completion (in 326), the Basilica di San Pietro became a place of pilgrimage for all Christians who came here to honor the memory of the martyrs.

Until the year 800, the coronation of all newly elected pontiffs took place here. until the basilica was plundered in 846 after a Saracen raid. Rumors reached the Saracens that in any of the temples of Rome you could profit from very valuable items, so almost all the temples were plundered.

After the sack, the Basilica of Petra went through several reconstructions., but still by the 15th century its appearance was already very deplorable. Therefore, Pope Nicholas ordered the basilica to be significantly expanded and strengthened, which began in 1452. However, due to the death of the pontiff, work was suspended.

Pope Julius II approached the issue more globally: he ordered the demolition of the basilica and in its place to build a large cathedral, which would be the most majestic of all known at that time.

Almost all the famous architects of that time were involved in the design of the Basilica di San Pietro. Donato Bramante's project was approved, and work began in 1506. Since after the death of Bramante, Raphael Santi began to supervise the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the shape and plan of the building changed slightly: instead of a Greek cross with equal sides, he returned to the traditional Latin forms - with a fourth elongated side.

Architects who worked on the project after Raphael strove for different forms of the temple - sometimes a basilica, sometimes a centric structure. The different interpretations of forms continued until Michelangelo Buonarotti got down to business (1546).

He strengthened the foundation of the building, making it very strong, and made the central dome idea the main theme. Along the edges, Michelangelo erected a multi-columned portico and the base of the central dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, but Giacomo della Porta completed its construction.

By the way, Michelangelo refused to work on the project of the patriarchal basilica for a very long time, and claimed that he was an artist, not an architect, but it was with the participation of Buonarotti that the work on the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome moved forward much further than with all his predecessors. The walls and roof were erected almost from scratch and work began on the dome.

At the beginning of the 17th century the central part was enlarged, thus preserving the idea of ​​the Latin cross. The architect Karl Moderna added an extension to the basilica and the façade on the western side. Unfortunately, after the latest additions, the dome is clearly visible only from one side - from Via Della Concigliazione.

In order for everyone to be able to attend ceremonial events or services, a large area was required.

This idea was brilliantly implemented by Giovanni Bernini, who designed the main square in the Vatican in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, as well as the famous rounded colonnade that frames the square. An obelisk was erected on the square in 1562, brought to Rome from Egypt by the Roman Emperor Caligula in the 1st century.

The completion of construction dates back to November 1626, when Pope Urban VIII officially opened the Cathedral and began the service.

On the pages of our website you will learn about another attraction of Rome -! What are ancient baths famous for and why do they attract tourists so much?

Description of the attraction

According to the architects, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is a cross, which is crowned by a huge dome; its height is 138 meters, and it is considered the largest dome in the world. In Rome it was not allowed to build churches higher than St. Peter's Basilica. Its height reached 136 meters, and its width was 211.5 meters. Until 1990, the Cathedral held the title of the highest temple complex world until the basilica was built in Yamoussoukro (Côte d'Ivoire).

Inside the dome is decorated with figures of four evangelists with animals that surrounded the throne of God - Mark and the lion, John and the eagle, Luke and the ox. And only Matthew is depicted with an angel. Along the inner circle of the dome there is an inscription in Latin: “You are Peter, and on this stone I will build my Church” (Gospel of Matthew; 16:18).

There are five entrances to the Basilica di San Pietro: the Gate of Death, the Gate of Philaret, the Gate of the Sacraments, the Gate of Good and Evil and the Holy Gate. Through the Gate of Death, the Vatican sees off the deceased pontiffs on their last journey.

The Holy Gates are opened only in the Jubilee (Holy) Year, which happens once every 25 years. In the year of the anniversary, around Christmas, the Pope breaks the concrete masonry at the door where the cross and the box with the key to the doors of the Cathedral are embedded. These gates are also called the Gates of Indulgence: if you go through them during the Jubilee Year, your sins are written off and the person becomes sinless.

In front of the central entrance to the Cathedral there are sculptural figures of the holy apostles Peter and Paul.

The interior decoration of the temple, which Bernini also worked on, amazes with its richness and elegance of decoration.

To the right of the main aisle there is a sculpture of Peter (XIII century), which is considered miraculous among parishioners, and everyone tries to touch it at least for a moment. Another legendary relic is kept in the Cathedral - the tip of the spear of the centurion Longinus.

To the right of the central nave is sculptural composition “Pieta” (“Lamentation of Christ”) by Michelangelo. The central nave is flanked by two more naves, separated from the main one by semicircular arches.

Another Bernini masterpiece is the canopy (cevorium), a decorative canopy on pillars– located directly under the dome of the Cathedral. The canopy is a very impressive bronze structure, resting on four pillars with angels. Bronze for decoration was taken from the Pantheon, for which the bronze parts of the portico were dismantled.

The altar stands in the same place as before, only reconstructed and strengthened. There is a special “window” in the floor through which parishioners can see the tomb of St. Peter.

The Vatican Grottoes are located on the lower level of the temple., the tombs of some Popes, ancient confessionals, mosaics preserved from the 15th century, as well as the place of Peter’s confession - a chapel decorated with marble.

Opening hours, ticket prices

Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome daily, from 9 to 19 hours(from October to March - from 9 to 18 hours). The exception is Wednesday morning - every Wednesday morning the Cathedral is closed due to papal receptions taking place there.

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is the heart of the Catholic world. St. Peter's Basilica is the main decoration of the Vatican, whose artistic treasures attract millions of tourists. St. Peter's Basilica is the largest Catholic cathedral on the planet. Its main hall occupies 2.3 hectares.

The inside of St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican amazes with its volume, size, harmony of proportions, materials, and richness of design. The painting of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican by Michelangelo with coffered decoration is an artistic masterpiece of Rome. The observation deck of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, accessible for an additional fee by elevator, offers the most impressive panorama of Rome.

Construction of the cathedral that we see today began in 1506 and was completed 120 years later. In 1626, St. Peter's Basilica was consecrated by Pope Abran VIII. This is a rather short construction period for a temple, the likes of which in beauty and grandeur have never been seen before.

However, this time was enough for 13 pontiffs to replace themselves in office: Julius II, Leo X, Adrian VI, Clement VII, Paul III, Julius III, Marcellus II, Paul IV, Pius IV, Pius V, Gregory XIII, Sixtus V, Urban VII. The number of architects who headed this project is also significant and replete with great names: Donato Bramante, Raphael, Baldassare Peruzzi, Antonio da Sangallo, Michelangelo, Vignola. The temple later underwent further modernization in the early 17th century under the direction of the architect Carlo Maderno, and in 1656-1667 Bernini created the square in front of the cathedral, but that is another story.

The size of the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle is truly amazing. When you stand in front of the main facade and look at the statues of 11 more apostles, Jesus Christ and John the Baptist on top, you realize that you cannot take in the entire cathedral. Up close, you can’t even see the most important element – ​​Michelangelo’s dome. Moving a little further into the center of St. Peter's Cathedral takes on a finished look, only now Bernini's colonnade is not included in the photo frame...

In front of the entrance to the temple there are 2 statues:

  • Statue of St. Peter. Peter holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, which the Lord gave him.
  • Statue of St. Paul. Paul holds a spear.

There are 5 doors leading to the cathedral. One of them deserves special attention. This door (last on the right side) was created in 1950. It opens in the anniversary year every 25 years. It is not only closed for 25 years, it is concreted and decoratively decorated on the inside.

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Rome. Basilica di San Pietro.

What does St. Peter's Cathedral hide inside?!

A visit to St. Peter's Cathedral for tourists and pilgrims is considered a continuation of the tour. After visiting the Sistine Chapel, the path leads to the artistic treasures of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The interior decoration of St. Peter's Basilica exceeds all expectations. The floor is paved with multi-colored porphyry and marble.

The walls of the cathedral are decorated with stucco, gold, silver, multi-colored marble (white, pink, green), decorated with sculptures and works of art.

The temple itself has the shape of a cross, at the intersection of which in the central part of the temple stands the Papal Altar. Four powerful pillars support the dome designed by Michelangelo (two-level dome). The height of the internal dome is 119 meters, and the diameter reaches 42 meters. The pillars are decorated with niches, in each of which there are figures of saints:

  • Statue of St. Andrew the First-Called (work by Francois Duquesnoy).
  • Statue of Saint Veronica.
  • Statue of Empress Helena with the Holy Cross in her hands (mother of Emperor Constantine).
  • A five-meter statue of Saint Longinus - a soldier who pierced Jesus Christ with a spear and subsequently converted to Christianity (work by Lorenzo Bernini, 1635).

The canopy (cevorite) by the great master Lorenzo Bernini is a stunning structure supported by 4 graceful twisted columns, the tops of which are decorated with four angels. From a distance it looks wooden: the craftsman’s work is so delicate. In fact, the canopy is made of bronze, and some elements are plated with gold. Bernini worked on it for 9 years from 1624 to 1633. There are also two symbols in the work:

  • symbol of the Papacy - crossed keys;
  • The symbol of the influential Barberini family is the bee.

Its height is 29 meters (4 storey building). And all this is located in the center of the cathedral under a painted dome rising up (the painting is the work of the Italian artist Cavaliero d’Arpino).

Just below Michelangelo's dome and Bernini's canopy is the entrance to an underground labyrinth that leads to one of the Vatican's most valuable treasures - the burial site of St. Peter. This sacred place is reserved for the highest clergy. In the center of the cathedral there is something directly related to Jesus Christ. Here you can see the symbol of St. Peter: an inverted cross.

The history of the unique cathedral begins in 64 AD. Then the king of the Roman Empire, Neuron, executed the follower of the Christian faith, the leader and first disciple of Jesus - 64 summer Peter. According to legend, Peter asked to be crucified upside down. He believed that he was not worthy to die as the Savior. Peter was buried on Vatican Hill. In the 4th century, Christianity became the main religion of the Roman Empire and Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of a cathedral in honor of St. Peter on Vatican Hill. In the 16th century, construction began on a new cathedral that would reflect the power and influence of the Catholic Church. The new St. Peter's Basilica is a perfect example of the Renaissance. The most sacred place in St. Peter's Basilica is the Clementine Chapel. Here is the original altar and the center of the ancient cathedral. It was here that the Apostle Peter, the first disciple of Jesus Christ, was crucified, died and buried.

On the side, not far from the altar, there is a statue of St. Peter. She is considered miraculous. So don’t miss the opportunity to touch the feet of the statue of St. Peter and ask for your cherished wish to be fulfilled!

Another must-see masterpiece in St. Peter's Basilica is Michelangelo Buonarroti's Pietà.

Sculptural group “Pieta” or “Lamentation of Christ”. Michelangelo Buonarroti.

The sculptor worked on it for 2 years and completed his creation in 1499 at the age of 24. The sculptural group “Pieta” or “Lamentation of Christ” is made of marble and reaches a height of 1 meter 74 cm. Revealing the plot of “Lamentation of Christ”, the sculptures depicted only two main figures: the Virgin Mary holding her dead son Jesus Christ on her lap. Looking at the sculptural group, the question arises: why does Mary’s face look younger than that of her son Jesus. So Michelangelo tried to combine the ancient ideal of beauty with the Christian idea and embody the words of Dante, the author of the Divine Comedy, who wrote: “Our Lady, daughter of her son”!

Another interesting one historical fact: The Pietà is the only work signed by Michelangelo. This was preceded by a story according to which one day Michelangelo witnessed how people admired his work in St. Peter's Basilica, and the authorship was attributed to another master. Therefore, he decided to correct this injustice and carved an inscription on the ribbon descending from Mary’s left shoulder, which translated means “Michelangelo Buonarroti the Florentine performed.”

Prices for hotels and apartments within walking distance of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.