St. Peter's Cathedral is one of the greatest Christian churches in the World. This place is rightfully considered sacred, because the Vatican contains many sacred relics and memorial buildings.
About the Cathedral
Rome is one of the most ancient cities in the world with a rich history and amazing architecture. Every year, tourists from all over the world come to the capital of Italy to see the sights of the city. One of the most famous places is St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
The architecture of this building is striking at first glance: a huge spacious dome, columns and a tall obelisk in the middle of the square... All this looks majestic and impressive. A closed place, sacred to all Christians - the Vatican - lifts the veil of secrecy, allowing you to find yourself in one of the many parts of the temple.
Who is the architect of St. Peter's Cathedral? He was not alone, they changed often, but this did not stop him from creating a wonderful structure, which is considered an item of world cultural heritage. The place where the Pope lives - the main face of the world Christian religion - will always remain one of the greatest and most popular among travelers. The holiness and significance of this temple for humanity cannot be overestimated.
St. Peter's Basilica from outside
The building that can be seen today was completely thought out by the architect of St.
Petra - Michelangelo.
The sculptural groups on the facade of the temple are the greatest creation the best masters Italy. Taking a closer look, you can see that these tall statues depict Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and the apostles. The obelisk near the temple also has its own meaning. It is otherwise called the “needle”, and it is believed that the ashes of Julius Caesar rest at its base.
The colonnade, connecting on both sides of the cathedral, is also an important part of the architectural complex. It was erected according to the design of one of the architects of St. Peter's Cathedral - Bernini. At the top of the colonnade there is a row of statues of one hundred and forty saints. Among them are a significant number of women. They all look out from the heights of the colonnades.
In front of the entrance stands a statue of the Apostle Paul - a symbolic move by the sculptors, drawing a parallel between the entrance to Paradise and the entrance to the Cathedral.
St. Peter's Cathedral: history, description
The history of the creation of the structure is full of mysteries and secrets. Unfortunately, St. Peter's Basilica is a relatively new temple compared to other shrines in Europe. The one that exists today is significantly different from the cathedral on which the great architects and sculptors worked.
Many people took place in the temple historical events. The foundation of the temple and the first basilica were built during the coronation of the king of the Franks and Lombards, Charlemagne, who first united the French lands.
During its existence, the structure of the building burned several times and was again restored by architects. Much effort was made to restore St. Peter's Basilica. The holy places of Rome, to which believers make pilgrimages every year, almost all of them are located here.
This place is especially important for the entire Christian world: here you can visit the room where the relics of the Apostle Peter are kept.
Michelangelo
The history of the temple is so great that it is difficult to answer the question: "What great architects were the main builders of St. Peter's Basilica?" This building has seen different artists, sculptors and architects, but only a few did truly important things.
Many people have made efforts to create such a project as St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Michelangelo Buonarroti is the main architect of the temple, whose contribution to its construction was very significant. He was hired by one of the most influential families of Florence - the Medici. The architect of St. Peter's Cathedral, who was earlier, planned to make the dome in the shape of an elongated cross. But it is precisely thanks to Michelangelo’s design that the dome of the cathedral has a spherical shape. As the chief architect of St. Peter's Cathedral, the artist created paintings and sculptures for the temple. Soon, one of the representatives of the Medici family was elected Pope. The newly elected Leo X appointed Michelangelo, now officially, as the chief architect of the Cathedral.
An interesting fact is that the great sculptor and artist Buonarroti for a long time refused to work on the architecture of such a project as St. Peter's Cathedral. Michelangelo, however, later agreed and radically changed the idea of the building.
Sculpture and remains of the Apostle Peter
The statue of the Apostle Peter is the main attraction of the Cathedral. The sculpture seems both stern and welcoming. In addition, she is considered a saint. There is a tradition: when visiting the cathedral, you must touch the foot of this figure. It is believed that after this the spirit forgives the person all his sins. The heart of the one who touches the leg must be pure, even if the person has done a lot of bad things. Every day there are so many people who want to touch the saint’s marble foot that the museum’s caretakers have to polish its surface from time to time.
However, another place is considered the most sacred. It is located underground. This is a crypt where the relics of saints are kept. The column with the remains of the Apostle Peter, in whose honor the Cathedral is named, is the most important part of the entire temple-museum. The chief architect of St. Peter's Cathedral created a descent into the crypt. It resembles a staircase to the underworld, however, having descended, everyone pays attention to the remains - the skeletons of saints. The crypt is quite dark, which creates an otherworldly feeling.
Dome of the Cathedral
The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest in Europe. It rests on four massive pillars decorated with stucco and sculptures.
Above the pillars there are loggias where relics were previously kept. Under each of the relics there is a corresponding statue of a saint.
The sculpture of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called is a man who holds a beam of wood and calls out to Heaven. There is an expression of torment and suffering on his face.
Another statue is the Holy Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles. She holds a huge cross - a symbol of Faith. Her second hand is directed towards the viewer, her face is calm and peaceful.
The sculpture of Saint Veronica conveys a completely different mood. In her pose there is dynamics, movement. Saint Veronica holds a cloth in her hands, which she gave to Jesus so that he could wipe his face. She seems to be handing it over, and the expression on her face shows determination and confidence. The fourth column is decorated with a statue of St. Longinus. The saint looks menacingly stern, holding a spear in one hand. The other hand extends to the side. In his posture you can read anger and thirst for justice.
Floor made of tombstones. Sculpture "Moses"
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and its tombs are the most fascinating thing in the whole temple. Its peculiarity is that in one of the halls of the Cathedral the floor is a series of tombstones.
When you walk on it, you feel incredible excitement, a sense of holiness and connection with the Almighty.
Inside the temple there are many frescoes, on the floors, ceilings, walls... High art surrounds everywhere - images of biblical scenes.
The sculpture of Moses is one of the favorite places for tourists. This statue depicts the Old Testament hero who led his people out of the desert and became a great savior for Christians. In the folds of his robe, his facial expression, and the tense muscles of his arms, one senses excitement and responsibility for all of humanity. In his posture there is a readiness for the blows of fate, a desire to resist fate. The thick beard is sculpted so realistically that it looks like real hair. She gives Moses a stern look, which for a moment even makes him afraid.
Sculptures of the Right Nave
The famous marble Pieta, created by the hands of Michelangelo, is a world masterpiece of art. The sculpture seems to be alive, it makes you feel a sense of sorrow, quiet grief for the dying Christ. The folds of fabric, the smooth face of the Virgin Mary - all this looks so realistic that it seems as if, having overcome many centuries, they suddenly appeared in the hall, and we have just become unwitting spectators of the tragedy that has occurred. The Virgin Mary's eyelids are lowered, she closed her eyes in grief. In the pose of Christ there is amazing helplessness. This sculpture, very strong psychologically and emotionally, took years to create, and the slightest mistake could lead to the loss of the form and the whole idea. However, master Michelangelo created her so tender and sad that she looks truly alive.
Not far from the Pieta is the Tomb of Matilda of Tuscany, decorated with a sculpture of a female warrior and several cupids at her feet. It was executed by the sculptor Bernini.
The Sistine Chapel
One of the most famous frescoes of world art - created by Michelangelo. The largest painting at that time in scale adorned the largest cathedral in the world - St. Peter's Basilica. At that time, Julius II was Pope. He invited young Michelangelo to do this work. He did not yet have sufficient skills in painting, but agreed and began to work. Today, it would take more than five hours to study this fresco in detail. The variety of lines, folds of fabric on the figures and scenes of the Bible is captivating and does not allow you to look away. You can see Christ crucified on the cross, and scenes from the Old Testament... For example, the creation of the World, the creation of Adam and Eve, the separation of water from land, the expulsion of people from Paradise, the sacrificial Noah, the frightened Delphic Sibyl, the prophets...
In the corners of the chapel are the oldest passages from the Bible: The Brazen Serpent, Judith and Holofernes, The Punishment of Haman.
The chapel was restored several times, but did not lose its beauty and integrity of composition.
What is St. Peter's Cathedral famous for - how to get there and what to see. Tips: how to dress and what not to take with you. St. Peter's Basilica on the map of Rome.
The ancient shrine of the entire Christian world is St. Peter's Basilica, located in the center of the Vatican. The history of construction is associated with the names of famous Italian architects and artists. In addition, the site chosen for the construction of the church is an archaeological site.
St. Peter's Basilica - history
The first Christian basilica on the site of the current cathedral was built at the beginning of the 4th century, fulfilling the order of the Christian Roman emperor Constantine. Before this, the circus gardens of another ruler of Rome, Nero, were located here. It is believed that only the obelisk remains of its structure. Now it stands on the square in front of the cathedral. An altar was erected in the basilica, which was placed directly above the tomb of St. Peter. Ironically, he was executed by Nero for his faith, and the saint was buried in his gardens. The Christian church stood for more than 11 centuries when Pope Nicholas the Fifth decided to rebuild and reconstruct it.
His work was continued by Julius II, who replaced the ancient basilica with a large cathedral. This was done for the safety of believers, as well as to strengthen the power of papal authority.
Construction and ideas of the masters
The new St. Peter's Cathedral was designed by the architect D. Bramante, thanks to whom a centric cruciform building (equal sides) was built.
Where is the dome?.. Not everyone knows that the façade of the cathedral does not have ideal proportions :)
After him, the work was continued by R. Santi, who relied on the traditional Latin cross. In accordance with Raphael's design, the center of the cathedral was slightly shifted and moved. Another master B. Peruzzi, striving for centrism, returned to Bramante’s idea. Next, A. da Sangallo worked on the cathedral, preferring the basilica form. The completion of the work is attributed to Michelangelo, who was a proponent of having a central dome in the temple. The rest of the construction and interior of the cathedral was based on this. The entrance was created in the form of a portico with columns. It was located in the east, not in the west. Michelangelo created massive bearing structures and began construction of the drum for the main dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
It fell to other architects to complete the construction - D. della Porta, Vignola, C. Maderna. Only 2 small domes out of the planned four appeared in the cathedral, and the center became a three-nave basilica. Another façade was also built, which completely covered it. It can now be seen from the side of the square.
Interesting facts about St. Peter's Basilica
- The obelisk installed in St. Peter's Square is a tall stone stele from the 13th century BC. e. - was brought from Egypt at the very beginning of our era. Lorenzo Bernini made this stele the center of an oval square;
- The Vatican coat of arms features a tiara and keys. These are the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, which, according to Christian tradition, Simon (St. Peter) received from Jesus;
- Popes are buried in the dungeon of St. Peter's Basilica. On April 8, 2005, John Paul II was buried here;
- In the Basilica of Constantine, on the site of which St. Peter's Cathedral was built, there were 120 altars. Light entered the temple through 72 windows. 23 Holy Roman Emperors were crowned in the basilica.
How does the excursion to St. Peter's Basilica work?
This basilica is a whole complex of buildings, because it is not for nothing that it is the largest Christian temple in the world. Therefore, be prepared that the excursion to St. Peter’s Cathedral (including a tour of the square, photos and selfies) will take you at least an hour. Or better yet, 1.5 – 2 hours. You won’t be able to run into this temple for a minute. If only because you will first have to stand in a huge queue.
The Cathedral Square is a place for believers
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is enormous - 211 meters long and 136 meters high. But even with these dimensions, everyone cannot fit inside, so additional space was created. In the middle of the 17th century. Giovanni Bernini fulfilled the Pope's order and began building a huge square located opposite the cathedral.
St. Peter's Square - the best panorama of the basilica opens from here!
The queue to the cathedral, ringing the square. It's worth coming early, isn't it?
The square is one of the most recognizable places in Rome (despite the fact that it is a different state, for a minute!). Most tours of St. Peter's Basilica begin from this starting point. Closer to noon, a huge queue seems to ring the square from left to right. To get to the treasured “frame” of the metal detector, you will have to wait about an hour.
Advice: if you find yourself in the area of the cathedral in the morning, and the queue does not reach the end of the colonnade on one side, then you are in luck - feel free to occupy it! This way you will save a lot of time, which is very expensive in Rome.
Entrance to the temple - prohibited items and clothing
There are metal detectors at the entrance to the Vatican, so it is better not to take sharp objects (scissors, nail files, etc.) with you. And also cutting ones - for example, my favorite Victorinox knife, which is indispensable during a spontaneous picnic. But in this case it is better to refuse such an accessory.
There are requirements for girls and ladies. With all the European democracy, the Catholic Church in Lately jealous of appearance. This has reached its apex in the Vatican. In 98% of cases you will not be allowed into St. Peter's Basilica with your shoulders and knees exposed. Moreover, restrictions do not apply to the neckline and other delights. There is no need to cover your head with a scarf.
Such rules apply in a “foreign monastery”, and they should be respected.
Interior of St. Peter's Cathedral - what to see
So, after standing in a long line at the entrance to the Vatican, you are finally at your cherished goal. Still not believing your eyes, you act step by step. To begin with, you freeze at the great Pieta by Michelangelo, which is at the very entrance to the Cathedral. And even though it has recently been placed behind thick glass - away from vandals and madmen - this in no way diminished its beauty, divine grandeur and solemn sorrow.
Then, as if in a fog (your mind is already clouded from the fact that you just stood next to the Pieta itself!), you examine the majestic tombs of Popes, noble persons and freeze for a long time in silent admiration for the greatest Bernini's creations - the famous Baldachin over the main Altar cathedral! These are the main masterpieces of St. Peter's Basilica that should not be missed.
If you don't mind making a wish, you can approach the statue of Peter himself and touch to the right place(it shines when touched) and ask for a painful problem. Everything will definitely come true and get better! It is better to devote the rest of the time to quiet contemplation of the majestic interior. Thoughtfully enjoy the beauty of the temple, approach each one below, admire the dome of the cathedral, admire the play of streams of light breaking through the stained glass windows.
St. Peter's Basilica on the map of Rome
Address: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Papal See (Vatican City).
St. Peter's Basilica - how to get there
If hotels in the area of St. Peter's Square do not appeal to you, then you can get to the basilica by public transport. Closest to the cathedral metro station - Ottaviano. She was even specially noted - Ottaviano-San Pietro. From it, almost in a straight line, namely the eponymous Via Ottaviano, you will exit to the main square.
There is another metro station near the cathedral - this Cipro. The street Via Fra Albenzio, leading from it, practically abuts the stern Vatican wall on the back side - this is the border of the state. The station is more suitable for those seeking entry to the Vatican Museums rather than St. Peter's Basilica. If you also plan to admire the Sistine Chapel first, then remember the name - Cipro-Musei Vaticani.
Express bus No. 40 stops not far from the “cathedral” square. You can use it if you want to get to St. Peter's Basilica from the Old Town. You can use the same bus to get to Hadrian's Mausoleum. This is another significant one.
How do you know that when you exit the metro, you are heading to in the right direction? It’s very simple: you are immediately attacked by numerous promoters offering excursions to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican - licensed, with a Russian-speaking guide, etc. In Rome you will have to get used to this and not get irritated in vain.
Hotels near the Cathedral and St. Peter's Square
It's a great idea to book a hotel in Rome in the area of St. Peter's Basilica. This way you will have a chance to do everything and even visit the Vatican more than once. After all, it is very difficult to cover everything at once - visit the basilica, climb the dome, visit museums. In addition, this is a prestigious area, and most rooms offer views of the main Christian shrine:
Last modified: January 6, 2019
Basilica di San Pietro - this is how the name of one of the very first Christian churches sounds in Dante’s language. St. Peter's Basilica is located in the historical center of Rome, on the territory of the Vatican - one of the smallest states. Every year, thousands of pilgrims and tourists from different parts of the world come to the Eternal City to see with their own eyes this magnificent structure, which houses many religious shrines and famous works of art.
However, being the center of Catholicism and the symbol of the Vatican, the largest church in the world is used only as a ceremonial center for papal services only on special dates: on Catholic Christmas and Easter, when performing rituals in Holy Week, as well as during the proclamation of new pontiffs, the canonization of new saints, the opening and closing of the Jubilee Year.
Construction of the current St. Peter's Basilica began in 1506. under Pope Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere, 1443-1513) in place old church, erected by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century.
Constantinian Basilica of St. Peter
The exact chronology of the construction of the ancient basilica is unknown, however, according to information given in the Liber Pontificalis (Book of Pontiffs), historians have established that it was erected by Emperor Constantine during the pontificate of Sylvester the First (314-335). Work supposedly began between 319 and 326 on the site of Nero's old circus. Here, in addition to all kinds of competitions, Emperor Nero executed with particular cruelty the first Christians who believed in the Savior.
Some historians suggest that it was at this site, at the foot of the Vatican Hill, in 64 AD. Apostle Peter, a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, was crucified. The burial place of the Christian martyr, marked by a modest tombstone, became a site of mass but secret pilgrimage over the next two hundred years. In the 4th century AD. By decree of Constantine the Great (the first of the emperors to stop all persecution of Christians), a basilica was built here, named after St. Peter.
For twelve centuries, the Basilica of Constantine was the main center of pilgrimage for Christians in Rome. Only at the end of the 14th century the church, together with the Vatican complex of buildings, became the residence of the pontiffs and was enriched with many works of art.
Interior of the Basilica of Constantine in Raphael's fresco "Donation of Rome" in the Hall of Constantine in the Vatican Museums
Nicholas V (Tomaso Parentucelli, 1397-1455), who ascended the papal throne in March 1447, decided to partially reconstruct the Vatican Palace and the dilapidated Constantinian Basilica of St. Peter. In 1452, in consultation with the architect Leone Battista Alberti, he commissioned Bernardo Rossellino to develop a design that would preserve the important ancient heritage. However, the death of the pontiff interrupted the work that had begun for a long time.
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Architects of St. Peter's Basilica
At the beginning of the 16th century, Pope Julius II decided to demolish the old basilica to make way for a new, grandiose building. Construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica began on April 18, 1506, according to the design of Donato Bramante (Donato Angelo di Pascuccio, 1444-1514) and was completed more than a century later. According to the Italian architect, the future cathedral was to be a majestic structure that could not only accommodate a large number of parishioners, but also to emphasize the power of the Church. For the gigantic nature of the presented project, the destruction and destruction of the venerable basilica, Bramante was given the mocking nickname “Maestro ruinante”, i.e. Master of destruction. In addition, in 1507, a huge scandal arose in connection with the distribution of indulgences by Pope Julius II to those who donated cash for the construction of a new basilica.
The basilica's plan, according to Bramante's design, was a Greek cross, in the central part of which it was planned to build a dome supported by four giant columns. The construction of the walls of the new temple began soon after the project was approved, but a few years later the work was suspended due to the death of Pope Julius II in 1513, and a year later of the architect himself.
Projects of St. Peter's Cathedral in plan
Since 1514, the project to build the basilica was led by Rafael Santi together with Giuliano da Sangallo and Giovanni Monsignori, better known as Fra Giocondo. Raphael proposed lengthening one of the sides of the structure, thereby bringing its shape closer to the more traditional shape of the Latin cross. Later, after the death of Raphael in 1520, the post of first architect was taken over by Antonio da Sangallo Jr., and the leadership construction work was entrusted to Baldassare Peruzzi. However, despite the large number of eminent sculptors and architects who took part in the development of the project for the new basilica, the work did not move forward - each of them proposed their own project, considering it the best. Construction was resumed only in 1538, which continued until the death of Antonio da Sangallo in 1546.
From left to right: Donato Bramante, Rafael Santi, Baldassare Peruzzi, Giuliano da Sangallo, Antonio da Sangallo, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Carlo Maderno
In 1546, the position of chief architect was taken over by seventy-year-old Michelangelo Buonarroti. He decided to return to the design of the Bramante Basilica with a large central dome. Guided by the experience of Filippo Brunelleschi, who created the incredible domed structure of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Michelangelo was able to design an even more impressive structure. Unlike Brunelleschi's octagonal dome, Michelangelo's design has a more graceful shape, based on sixteen faces. Unfortunately, Michelangelo was never able to see the result of his work. In 1564, after the death of the master, the continuation of construction was entrusted to the architect Giacomo della Porta (1533-1602), who completed the construction of Michelangelo's dome.
Interior view of the dome in St. Peter's Basilica
In 1603, after the death of Giacomo della Porta, Pope Clement VIII appointed Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) the new head of the construction of the basilica. He was the nephew of the famous architect Domenico Fontana and by that time had established himself as a promising and dynamic master. Maderno, using Michelangelo's preliminary sketches, designed the building's façade. However, his work has always been subject to serious criticism. The fact is that the elongated nave of the basilica and, as a result, its gigantic facade, more than 45 meters high, brought forward, hid the stunning dome, and all the beauty of the new church could only be seen from afar.
The construction of St. Peter's Basilica was completed in 1626 - on November 18, Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, 1568-1644) consecrated the largest Catholic church in the world. Its dimensions are still amazing - with a length of 220 meters, the height of the basilica together with the dome is more than 136 meters, and when holding services, it can accommodate more than 20 thousand. believers.
St. Peter's Basilica inside: what to see
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican amazes the imagination of everyone who first crosses the threshold of this grandiose structure. Under the arches of the main Christian temple there are priceless works of art that travelers, tourists and pilgrims coming from all over the world strive to see. However, limited in time, many do not have time to fully enjoy the centuries-old heritage of the past. In this short section of the article, our website offers you to get acquainted with some masterpieces that are worth paying attention to when visiting the basilica first.
Pieta by Michelangelo
Perhaps one of the most famous works of art located in St. Peter's Basilica is the Pietà sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, an outstanding artist, architect and sculptor of the Renaissance. Translated from Italian, "pieta" means "pity, compassion", and is a term used in fine arts to represent the scene of Jesus Christ's mother mourning him.
The sculptural composition was made by Michelangelo in 1499, when he was only 25 years old, and which brought the young master unprecedented popularity and recognition. They started talking about him not only in Italy, but also far beyond its borders. Numerous copies of the masterpiece can today be found in many churches, museums around the world and private collections. The sculpture is installed in the first chapel from the entrance in the right nave of St. Peter's Basilica and is protected by glass.
Chapel of St. Sebastian in St. Peter's Basilica
In the right nave of the basilica there is another remarkable chapel dedicated to Saint Sebastian. Here is the tomb of Pope John Paul II, who occupied the Holy See from 1976 to 2005.
In 2011, after the beatification ceremony, the body of the pontiff was transferred from the Sacred Grottoes of the Vatican to the Chapel of St. Sebastian. On the right side of the chapel there is a memorial sculpture of Pope Pius XI, the founder of the Vatican. It was during his pontificate that, according to the Lateran Agreements, the boundaries of the Vatican State were determined.
Bernini's canopy - the pride of St. Peter's Basilica
Directly under the dome of the basilica is a huge bronze canopy (otherwise called a ciborium or canopy), located above the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica. Designed by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini at the request of Pope Urban VIII, it was intended to mark the burial place of the Apostle Peter in a monumental manner.
Work on the structure began in July 1624 and lasted almost ten years. This 29-meter structure is a real masterpiece - a gilded bronze canopy rests on four 20-meter spiral columns resting on high, almost human-height stone bases. For a long time it was believed that the bronze used for casting was taken from the dome of the ancient Pantheon, but this is not so - it was brought from Venice, and the bronze covering of the Temple of All Gods served to cast 80 cannons of the Castel Sant'Angelo.
Solomon's columns
The canopy columns above the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica imitate the shape of the marble Solomon columns. In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine brought to Rome several columns that he took, it is believed, from the second Temple of Solomon, which existed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 586. BC. and 70g. AD They were part of the interior of the old Constantine Basilica and were used as a pergula (the dividing structure of the temple space). Creating interior decoration of the new St. Peter's Basilica, Bernini placed them in the niches of the four large pylons of the church.
Chair of St. Peter
In the central apse of the basilica, located behind the main altar, you can see another masterpiece of Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini - the Chair of St. Peter, made of bronze and a valuable reliquary. Inside the grandiose altar composition one of the main relics of the cathedral is kept - the original wooden throne of the First Pope - St. Peter. It was given as a gift to Pope John VIII by the Frankish king Charles II on the occasion of his coronation on December 25, 875.
The work is a complex sculpture, the central element of which is the Throne of St. Peter. Floating in the air, it is as if supported by the monumental figures of great church figures located below the throne, whose works influenced the formation and development of the Church: Saints John Chrysostom, Athanasius the Great, Ambrose of Milan and Saint Augustine.
Bronze statue of St. Peter the Apostle
The last pylon of the central nave contains the famous bronze statue of St. Peter, made by the Italian sculptor and architect Arnolfo di Cambio (1245-1310). Ancient sculpture depicts a saint seated on a throne, who blesses believers with his right hand, and holds the key to the Kingdom of Heaven with his left. Pilgrims visiting the basilica treat it with special reverence - according to legend, it is believed that if you touch the right foot of St. Peter and with faith ask for the fulfillment of your intended desire, it will certainly come true. Over the years, the right foot has become so worn that the statue's toes are no longer visible.
Mosaic "Transfiguration" based on the painting by Raphael Santi
The Altar of the Transfiguration of Christ, located in the left nave, is decorated with a magnificent mosaic made after the famous painting by Raphael, which was one of latest works artist. Today, the original painting itself is in the Vatican Museums.
In our short article, of course, it is impossible to describe everything there is to see in St. Peter's Basilica and describe its splendor. Our website invites readers to watch a film where the famous Italian writer and TV presenter Alberto Angelo will talk about the history of the basilica and show all the unique sights of the temple in close-up.
Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica and visiting rules
IN summer period– from April to September inclusive, the basilica is open daily from 07:00 to 19:00. From October to March – from 07:00 to 18:00. Every Wednesday, during the pontiff's general audience in the square, the cathedral is closed in the morning.
- It is prohibited to carry large bags and backpacks, sharp objects, explosive and flammable liquids. There is a search at the entrance.
- When visiting, it is recommended not to wear frivolous clothing that will cause rejection among others. In particular, in order not to violate church canons and not to offend the feelings of believers, women should cover their bare shoulders with a shawl or any other clothing.
- Taking photographs in the temple is not prohibited, but you should not use a flash.
Dome
Visiting the observation deck of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica on foot (551 steps!) is possible daily from 08:00 to 18:00 from April to October, and from 08:00 to 16:45 from October to March. The ticket price is 8 euros.
You can also climb the dome by elevator, which will take you to the observation deck of the open terrace of the Cathedral. The cost of the service is 10 euros.
Vatican Grottoes
The Vatican Grottoes are open every day from 07:00 to 18:00 from April to September, and from 07:00 to 17:00 from October to March. Access is from the transept of the basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican
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 translated reads: "Here is the Cross of the Lord. All are gone evil forces. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered! Hallelujah!" This little prayer was given by 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 located right hand 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 household, weaving, embroidery, reading and Christian teaching ( Silvio Silva, 1949).
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Installed under the statue Fountain of Cherubs. There is a similar fountain on the opposite side of the nave.
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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.
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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).
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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 Pantheon dome ( 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. Construction of the dome was started by Bramante and Sangallo, continued by Michelangelo and Giacomo Della Porta, and completed in 1590 Last year the reign of Pope Sixtus V by Giacomo Della Porta and Domenico Fontana.
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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.
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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 boxes, in one of which a particle is placed Life-giving Cross and the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called, and secondly the medallion of the Lamb of God.
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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 big piece marble brought from the forum of Emperor Nerva.
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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.
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Statue of St. Benedicta, founder of the Benedictine Order.
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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 Savior.
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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.
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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.
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Monument (tombstone) of the pope
Contacts
Address: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
Telephone: +39 06 6988 3731
Official site: www.vatican.va
How to get there
Metro: Ottaviano station, Cipro (line A)
Trams: stop Risorgimento - San Pietro (No. 19)
Buses: stop Risorgimento (no. 590), Viale Vaticano-Musei Vaticani (no. 49)
Rome is a stunning Italian city that keeps secrets and mysteries of many centuries. Take a walk around ancient capital- means to plunge into the world amazing story and enjoy the beauty of architecture, painting, cultural and religious monuments.
Millions of tourists interested in the beautiful sights of Rome dream of getting to know the “city on 7 hills”.
Particularly interesting for visitors are: the ruins of ancient buildings, the famous, wonderful museums containing monuments of ancient times, wonderful Catholic cathedrals and churches of other faiths, spacious squares and much more.
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome - history of creation
The history of the construction of the cathedral began back in 326, when on the site of the old circus, in the arena of which St. Peter was executed in terrible agony, a basilica was erected by order of the ruler Constantine. This building was named after the martyr who asked for
To compare his execution to the crucifixion of Christ, that’s why he was hung upside down on the cross...
Construction of a full-fledged cathedral began in 1452 by order of Nicholas V, but after his death work was suspended for more than 50 years. Further construction of the sacred structure lasted more than a century. The best architects designed the temple. Thus, Emperor Julius II hired Bramante, who decided to make the church something like a Greek cross with equal sides.
After his death, Raphael took up the work, wanting to give the temple the appearance of a Latin cross. After this, the construction of the grandiose cathedral was entrusted to Michelangelo, according to whose design the building was to become more massive. However, it was not possible to fully implement the plan due to the death of the master; construction was completed by Domenico Fontana and Giacomo della Porta. The architects followed Michelangelo's designs with minor personal modifications.
Year of construction the cathedral is considered 1626 , it was then, on the 1300th anniversary of the basilica, 120 years after the start of construction, that the temple was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII. The last significant changes in architecture were made in the 17th century, when, by order of Paul V, the eastern branch of the cross was lengthened.
Peter's Temple - brief description
St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) in Rome is not only a religious monument for Christian believers, but also a masterpiece of world art. This temple is considered the largest Orthodox Church world and the main Catholic cathedral. The height of the grandiose structure reaches 120 meters from the floor to the top of the dome. However, it is famous not only for its impressive size, but also for its beautiful architecture and rich interior decoration.
In front of the façade there are statues of Saints Paul and Peter. The latter holds in his hands the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, which, according to legend, were given to him by Christ. By the way, St. Peter's Cathedral is the only place on the walls of which the true words of the son of God are carved (the famous phrase is located on outside mighty dome). You can enter the temple through one of five doors, but one of them is walled up with concrete and is opened only once every 25 years on Catholic Christmas and remains open throughout the year.
main entrance The entrance to the building is represented by massive bronze doors with images of religious scenes. Also on the facade you can see a beautiful bas-relief made by Bernini. Of particular cultural value cathedral dome, decorated with stunning frescoes and paintings, its diameter exceeds 40 meters. Lorenzo Bernini also designed the interior of the dome space. He made a great contribution to the arrangement of the temple, and the master’s main creation is considered to be a canopy placed on four twisted columns with statues of angels and placed above the main altar.
Also on the façade and inside the cathedral there are numerous sculptures depicting paintings from religious texts. In addition, the richness of the design is emphasized by altars, tombstones of emperors, clergy, mosaics, chapels and other works of art. Special meaning for the architecture of the building has tomb of st peter.
All these masterpieces of the best masters are succinctly located in the vast space of the shrine. total area St. Peter's Cathedral exceeds 22 thousand square meters. meters. Moreover, on its lower nave there are marks indicating the size of other world temples, this allows us to understand the scale of the structure. Architectural style The church is an echo of the Renaissance with Baroque and Gothic elements.
St. Peter's Cathedral is a brilliant creation of the best masters of several centuries; it attracts not only believers, but also amazes art connoisseurs and ordinary people with its beauty.
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome - opening hours
Peter's Church is ready to receive visitors every day, its opening hours vary depending on the time of year. So: 
- From April to September you can visit the sacred building from 9 to 19 o'clock;
- on winter period closing time is reduced by one hour.
- In addition, believers can attend services daily at 8:30, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00.
It should be noted that the temple is not open during papal audiences, so it is better to check the temple’s opening hours before your trip. Similar information about St. Peter's Basilica in Rome can be found on the official site: www.vatican.va.
Entrance in church free, additional costs may be caused by the desire to go up to the roof. 
Cost of climbing the dome depends on the chosen method:
- elevator it will cost 7 euros,
- and if you get there On the stairs, then you have to pay 5 euros.
By the way, from the top of the temple there is a stunning view not only of the Vatican, but also of most of Rome; it is from this point that you can observe the wonderful city from a bird's eye view.
Also, those who wish will be able to attend free tours of the cathedral, they start every day from the information desk at 14 and 15 o'clock and lasts an hour and a half. For an additional fee (5 euros), tourists can be provided with an audio guide.
It is important to know!
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome - how to get there and where it is located
The basilica is located in the sovereign state of Vatican City, which is located west of Rome, on St. Peter's Square, which was created specifically to accommodate temple parishioners during major religious holidays.
How to get to the temple
- You can get to the picturesque church using the capital's trains. metro, going to Ottaviano San Pietro station. However, from this stop you will have to walk about 5-7 minutes to the shrine itself.
- In addition, in the direction of the famous temple follow buses routes: 23, 34, 40 or 271,
- as well as local Taxi.
When traveling by rented car to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, you need to focus on address: Viale Giulio Cesare (Angolo Via Barletta), 62 00192 Rome, Italy. In order not to get lost in the city, it is better to use a road map.
St. Peter's Basilica on the map of Rome: