BUILDING BIG: Databank: St. Peter's Basilica St. Peter's Basilica Materials: Concrete Architect: Donato Bramante, Michelangelo By 1506, St. Peter's Basilica, the main church at the Vatican, was too small and decrepit to impress anyone. Following the examples set by emperors and sultans, Pope Julius II decided to crown the old church with a dome. He hired Italian architect Donato Bramante to do the job. Bramante's vision for the Basilica was simple: a Greek cross with equal-sized arms around a central dome. But Bramante and the Pope died before much could be built. In 1546, a young artist from Florence named Michelangelo gained total control of the construction of St. Peter's, the largest church in Christendom. Click photo for larger image. Michelangelo designed a dome that would actually dwarf the nearby Pantheon . It would be smaller than the Pantheon in diameter, but stand much, much higher. Made almost entirely of heavy masonry , the dome stretches 138 feet in diameter and rises 452 feet above the street.

To support such a giant dome, builders placed three iron rings within the masonry of the dome. But even the rings couldn't hold back the outward thrust of tension ; significant cracks eventually developed around the dome's base. By the early 18th century, the cracks became serious enough for Vatican engineers to add several more tension rings as an emergency fix. Fortunately, this solution has stood the test of time. Here's how this dome stacks up against some of the biggest domes in the world. (diameter, in feet) 138' Fast Facts: Despite designing the majority of St. Peter's Basilica, the 71-year-old Michelangelo refused to be paid for his work on the church. Before his death, Bramante persuaded the Pope to order Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel. Bramante expected Michelangelo, a sculptor and not a painter, to botch the job. He was wrong. The frescoes on the Sistene Chapel ceiling are considered some of the greatest achievements in Western art.

Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome: History, Architecture History of Illuminated Manuscripts Introduction The Basilica Papale di San Pietro in the Vatican City, commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is the most famous Roman Catholic church in the world and one of the holiest sites in Christendom, dating back to Roman architecture of the early Christian art period. The basilica, now the Pope's principal church, was built according to tradition above the burial site of St. Peter, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and the first Bishop of Rome, who was martyred in the year 64 CE. To maintain this tradition, Popes are now buried within the basilica. Designed as a replacement for the old Constantinian church (where, for instance, King Charlemagne had been crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800) which had been erected around 320 CE, construction of the present building was begun in 1506 (under Pope Julius II ) and completed in 1626 (under Pope Urban VIII).

Admired for its Renaissance sculpture as well as its fusion of Renaissance and Baroque architecture , the design, construction and decoration of Saint Peter's involved the greatest Old Masters of the day, including Alberti, Raphael, Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini. Note that it is called a papal basilica rather than a cathedral, since it is not the seat of a bishop: the Arch Basilica of St. John Lateran is actually the cathedral church of Rome. The latter functions as the principal church for worshippers who live in Rome, whereas the former serves as the focal point for all pilgrims who come to Rome, as well as locals. Background: Art and Religion From the ninth century onwards, the Christian Church was inextricably linked with the fine arts of architecture (for basilicas, cathedrals, churches, abbeys like Cluny), sculpture (both reliefs and statues) and painting (altarpiece panels as well as monumental works), for which it became the greatest sponsor and patron across Europe.

It also commissioned many types of decorative art, including stained glass (notably in Gothic cathedrals ), and tapestry art , as well as a huge range of mural painting (Sistine Chapel) illuminated manuscripts and miniature painting . In south-eastern Europe, in particular, it commissioned numerous items of mosaic art and a wealth of icon-painting . All these beautiful designs and objects of religious art were created in order to inspire religious congregations with the Christian message. In fact, at certain times, such as during the mid-16th century Counter-Reformation, sculptors and painters were given detailed instructions about how the precise features of a New Testament story should be presented. So it is no surprise that Saint Peter's Basilica itself - the world centre of the Roman Church - is lavishly endowed with many different types of art . Structure and Dimensions Built out of travertine stone, Saint Peter's is 452 feet high, 730 feet in length, and 500 feet in width, with an interior length of just over 693 feet (roughly 211 metres).

Covering an area of 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres or about 50,000 square feet), and large enough for 60,000 people, it used to be the largest Christian church in the world, but in 1989 it was exceeded in size by the church in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire. Interior Decoration: Nave, Chapels, Sculpture Pilgrims entering the basilica are monitored by church officials and members of The Swiss Guard. Inside, the basilica is cruciform in shape, with an elongated nave in the form of a Latin cross. The nave is framed by wide aisles giving access to a number of chapels. These include: the Chapel of the Presentation of the Virgin, the Clementine Chapel, the Chapel of the Madonna of Colonna, the Gregorian Chapel, the Chapel of the Pieta and several other altars. In addition, beneath the high altar, is the Chapel of the Confession.

The interior of Saint Peter's contains a number of priceless treasures in marble and bronze by the greatest Renaissance sculptors - works such as Pieta (1500) by Michelangelo - as well as Baroque sculpture - such as the baldachin or ceremonial canopy over the main altar, and the traditional Chair of St Peter (Cathedra Petri), both designed by Bernini - and Neoclassical sculpture (such as the marble statue of Pope Pius VI) by Europe's greatest neoclassical sculptors like the Italian genius Antonio Canova (1757-1822). It also contains numerous papal tombs ornamented with marble statues and reliefs - such as the Tomb of Pope Leo XI (1634-44) by Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654) - as well as mosaics and precious metalwork . Ironically, the huge and aggressive fund-raising campaign required to pay for the cost of the basilica and its contents (46 million ducats), led to protest across Europe and became an important factor in triggering the Reformation and the birth of Protestantism.

Exterior Architecture: Facade, Dome Saint Peter's is approached via St. Peter's Square, an elliptical forecourt encircled by a Doric colonnade, derived from Greek architecture . It ends at the facade of Saint Peter's which is 376 feet wide and 150 feet high. Designed by Carlo Maderno, the facade features a giant order of Corinthian columns (each 90 feet high) and is topped by thirteen statues - Christ flanked by eleven of the Apostles (excluding Peter) plus John the Baptist. At ground level it is approached by steps guarded by two 18-feet high statues of Saints Peter and Paul. The Basilica of St. Peter is one of four Major Basilicas of Rome, the others being Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Paul and St. John Lateran, but it is the dome of Saint Peter's - the tallest dome in the world - that dominates the skyline of Rome.

Designed largely by Michelangelo , and built during the short but active papacy of Sixtus V (15851590) by Michelangelo's pupil Giacomo della Porta, the dome rests on four pendentives and massive piers, each 60 feet thick. It was Michelangelo who increased the size and strength of the load-bearing structure without destroying the central unity of Bramante's original design. Immediate rivals of St Peter's dome include Florence Cathedral of the Early Renaissance, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in 1434 - for details, see Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi and the Renaissance (1420-36); Constantinople's Hagia Sophia church, completed in 537; and the dome designed by Christopher Wren for St Paul's Cathedral, finished in 1710. St Peter's Basilica is maintained by the Sampietrini, a specialist group of workers who continually scale and inspect the building's surfaces. Tombs and Relics Some 100 tombs are to be found within St. Peter's Basilica, including a number located in the Vatican grotto, underneath the Basilica.

They contain 91 popes, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, St. Ignatius of Antioch and Pope John Paul II. In a subterranean crypt, directly below the dome and the main altar, is the tomb of St. Peter himself. Positioned in niches set into the four piers supporting the dome are a number of statues associated with the holy relics of the basilica. They include: St. Helena holding the True Cross, by Andrea Bolgi; St. Longinus holding the spear that pierced the side of Jesus, by Bernini (1639); St. Veronica holding her veil with the image of Jesus' face, by Francesco Mochi, and St. Andrew with the St. Andrew's Cross, by Francois Duquesnoy . History The pope who first mooted the idea of a replacement for the old Constantinian basilica was Pope Nicholas V (144755), who commissioned Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72) and Bernardo Rossellino (1409-64) to produce a plan for a new structure.

Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) founded new churches, including the Sistine Chapel , widened streets, and helped to transform Rome into a Renaissance city, but left the basilica alone. It wasn't until his nephew Pope Julius II took over as pontiff in 1503 that things began to move. Julius decided to demolish the old basilica and replace it with a new one to house his large tomb. A long succession of popes, architects, designers and stone masons eventually saw the project through to completion in 1626.

Active pontiffs included: Leo X (15131521), Clement VII (15231534), Paul III (15341549), Sixtus V (15851590), Gregory XIV (1590-1), Clement VIII (15921605), Paul V (16051621), and Urban VIII (16231644), while among the most famous architects (Capomaestro) involved in its design, were Donato Bramante (1444-1514), Raphael (1483-1520), Giuliano da Sangallo, Baldessare Peruzzi, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo (1475-1564), Giacomo della Porta, Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) (assisted by Francesco Borromini 1599-1667) and Giovanni Bernini (1598-1680).

The lengthy and intermittent progress of its construction illustrates the changing course of High Renaissance art towards a break from strict, antique precedent to the freer eclectic tendencies of Mannerism and ultimately the Baroque . The artistry, architectural grandeur and sheer mass of St Peter's Basilica reaffirmed the status of Rome as the spiritual, if not temporal, home of Christianity. Saint Peter's Square Who wouldn't be weak at the knees to be among a crowd of anything up to 100,000 hushed and expectant people tightly packed in St Peter's Square waiting for the Pope to raise his arms in the blessing urbi et orbi, dedicated to the city (Rome) and the world? It is to Rome that people flock for this unique experience - the characteristic gesture with which the Roman Catholic Church presents itself to the world. They congregate in this square (dimensions: 787 feet x 1,115 feet; 240m x 340m) whose vast expanse so impressively symbolizes the universal embrace of the Church.

It was Bernini, one of the most talented Baroque architects and sculptors, who designed the layout of St Peter's Square in the manner of a theatre, with the square as the auditorium and the facade of the basilica as the stage - all in keeping with the desire to make St Peter's Basilica a textbook example of Catholic Counter-Reformation Art (c.1560-1700). Basing his ideas on the architecture of classical antiquity , he drew up an elliptical space surrounded by fourfold rows of columns adorned with the figures of 96 saints, which was to become the most famous colonnade in the world. In the early 19th century, the romantic poet Wilhelm Muller wrote that the tall colonnade encircled St Peter's Square at night "as if with shimmering arms". Bernini himself envisaged the colonnade as representing the arms of God enfolding the faithful, and the architecture of the square has received praise throughout the centuries for the elegance of its sublime proportions. A smaller square, the Piazza Retta adjoins the great square. Its enclosed sides lend an air of greater intimacy.

In the centre of St Peter's square today is an obelisk (132 feet high) brought from Egypt to Rome in 37 CE during the reign of Caligula. Originally it was located on the hill of the Vatican in Nero's Circus - the site of St Peter's martyrdom - when he was crucified. It was brought to its present location in 1586, and is revered as a "witness" to Peter's death. Its move must have been an astounding spectacle since it took 140 horses and 900 labourers to move the 385 ton monolith to its new site, using a complex rope winch system.  For more about Renaissance/Baroque architecture, see: Homepage . ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ART HISTORY St. Peter's Basilica | HowStuffWorks St. Peter's Basilica NEXT PAGENEXT St. Peter's Basilica is characterized by its to tower above the building Michelangelo was the chief from 1546 to 1564, but the artist never saw it. See more pictures of works by Michelangelo . In 1546, Michelangelo was appointed chief architect for the reconstruction of St.

Peter's Basilica in Rome , Italy . Though aging and in poor health, he accepted the appointment with the grace and gratitude of a man chosen by God. The Dead Artists Quiz During the seventeen years that Michelangelo held the position of chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica, he restored and improved upon Bramante's original elegant design -- which had been severely altered by Antonio da Sangallo. After ridding the site of thieves and para­sites, Michelangelo ensured the timely and cost-­effective completion of the project. But Michelangelo's greatest achievement for St. Peter's Basilica was the majestic and exquisitely crafted dome that now dominates Rome's skyline. Despite his repeated protests to the contrary, Michelangelo proved himself to be a pioneer of outstanding ability in architecture. He far surpassed previous masters of architecture with his innovative designs for buildings both civic and religious. The dome of St. Peter's, the crown jewel of Rome's skyline, is also Michelangelo's crowning architectural achievement. The artist took on the ambitious commission late in his life, in 1546. He worked diligently and without pay to complete the basilica to serve his Creator and to secure the salvation of his soul.

The following pages of this article show some of the features of this great architectural work in detail. St. Peter's Basilica Façade by Michelangelo : Read more about the structure and project that Michelangelo took over when he was appointed chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica. St. Peter's Basilica Exterior by Michelangelo : See how the exterior of St. Peter's Basilica resembles that of another great architectural work by Michelangelo. St. Peter's Basilica Interior Nave by Michelangelo : Michelangelo took great care that the inside of the basilica matched the outside in greatness. See how on this page. St. Peter's Basilica Model of Dome by Michelangelo : To ensure accuracy of execution, Michelangelo built a wooden model of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Read more about it on this page. St. Peter's Basilica Dome by Michelangelo : Michelangelo never saw the dome completed -- see and read more about it here. First, take a look at the beautiful façade of this impressive building, St. Peter's Basilica.

To learn more about Michelangelo, art history, and other famous artists, see: Rome.info > St Peter's Basilica in Vatican Rome » Vatican city » St Peter's Basilica St Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) It’s the world’s largest Basilica of Christianity, nested into the heart of the Vatican city , with its 186 metres of length (218 if we consider the porch too), a height of 46 metres in the central aisle, a main dome 136 metre high and 42 metres large in diameter. The huge façade is 114 metres wide and 47 metres high. It has a surface of 22000 square metres and twenty thousand persons can pray in it. The indigenous St Peter's Basilica, nowadays forgotten, was constructed by will of Emperor Constantine around 320 AD in the area where Saint Peter had been martyrized (together with other Christians) close to the circus of Nero that, in fact, rose in the vicinity. For about thousand years the Basilica grew and got enriched, but it was also theatre of pillage in the barbarian hordes.

The first repair and enlargement intervention was ordered in the middle of the 15th century by pope Niccolo V, who entrusted Leon Battista Alberti and his helper Bernardo Rossellino. Later pope Giulio II charged Bramante who in 1506 demolished the old Saint Peter's Basilica planning a new one with a Greek cross plan. But at the time of the death of both pope and architect only the central pillars had been constructed. Buy St. Peter's Basilica tickets online and skip the line! Rafael (with the contribution of experts such as Fra Giocondo and Giuliano Da Sangallo) took over the guidance of the works, and proposed a Latin cross plan. Rafael was succeeded by Baldassarre Peruzzi first and Michelangelo later, who instead chose a return to the Greek cross. After the death of all contenders, pope Paolo V imposed the Latin cross structure, which was realized by Maderno who took care as well of the façade as we see it today. The St Peter's Basilica was consecrated in 1626. The plan of the dome belongs to Michelangelo who managed to finish only the portion of the dome basement called Tamburo.

It will be Giacomo Dalla Porta to complete the dome according to Michelangelo’s drawings in 1588-89. The positioning of most of the interior furnishing of the Basilica was assigned to Bernini by his untiring pope Urbano VIII Barberini. Bernini worked in the St Peter's Basilica for twenty years. We owe this artist the arrangement of the St Peter's square in front of the Basilica as well (1656-1667). Inside the Basilica are numerous and priceless art pieces kept in the forty five altars and eleven chapels. There are about ten thousand square metres of mosaics, Michelangelo’s Pieta , the papal canopy and the monument to Urbano VIII both by Bernini, the monument to Cristina of Sweden by Carlo Fontana, the monument to the countess Matilda by Canossa (under drawing of Bernini), only to quote some of the most important pieces.

Opening time of the basilica: from 7:00 to 18:00 every day (until 19:00 during winter), except on Wednesdays (if there is the papal audience the Basilica remains closed until 12:00). Entrance is free. It’s also possible to visit the dome (from October to March every day from 8:00 to 16:45, until 17:45 from April to September); entrance is charged. How to get to Saint Peter’s Basilica: the most comfortable public transport is the metro (line A – stop: Ottaviano) Search Hotels near St. Peter's Basilica Check-in date St. Peter's Basilica, Rome St. Peter's Basilica - saintpetersbasilica.org Saint Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church, is the center of Christianity. The imposing structure was built over a span of more than one hundred years by the greatest Italian architects of the era. The church is built on Vatican Hill, across the Tiber river from the historic center of Rome.

The location is highly symbolic: this was the site where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, died a martyr and where he was buried in 64 AD. St. Peter is considered the first pope, so it made perfect sense for the papacy to build the principal shrine of the Catholic church here. Brief History The First Basilica In the early fourth century Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, decided to build a basilica on Vatican Hill at the site of small shrine that marked the likely location of the tomb of St. Peter. Construction of the basilica started between 319 and 322. It was consecrated in 326 AD and finally completed around 349 AD. To facilitate the construction, a part of the terrain was leveled and the necropolis where St. Peter was originally buried was demolished. The basilica had an eighty-five meter (279 ft) long nave with four aisles and a spacious atrium with a central cantharus (fountain), enclosed by a colonnade. A bell tower stood at the front of the atrium. Visitors entered the atrium through a triple-arched portico. The New St. Peter's Basilica St.

Peter's Basilica St. Peter's Square The dome seen from the Tiber In the middle of the fifteenth century, the basilica was falling into ruin and pope Nicolas V ordered the restoration and enlargement of the church after plans by Bernardo Rossellino. After Nicolas V died, works were halted. No progress was made for half a century until pope Julius II decided to build a completely new church. He appointed Donato Bramante as chief architect. Bramante designed a structure with a high dome on a Greek cross plan (all sides have equal lengths). In 1506 Julius II laid the first stone of the new basilica which was to become the largest in the world. After Bramante's death in 1514 he was succeeded by a number of different architects, all of whom made changes to the design, most notably Michelangelo Buonarroti, who became chief architect in 1547 at the age of seventy-two. He conceived the imposing dome and made further alterations to the plans. At the time of Michelangelo's death in 1564 only the drum of the dome was built. The dome was finally completed in 1590 by Giacomo della Porta.

On request of pope Paul V the imposing edifice was extended further into a true Latin cross plan by Carlo Maderno, who completed the main facade in 1614. The church was finally reconsecrated in 1626 by pope Urban VIII, exactly 1300 years after the consecration of the first church. Ever since, the St. Peter's Basilica has been the center of Christianity, drawing pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. St. Peter's Square the church's dome One of the fountains Visitors on their way to the St. Peter's Basilica pass along St. Peter's Square , a grandiose elliptical esplanade created in the mid seventeenth century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The square is bordered by massive colonnades that symbolize outstretched arms. Bernini and his assistants sculpted the 140 statues of saints that grace the balustrades on the colonnades. The square is decorated with fountains and an Egyptian obelisk that was transported to Rome in 37 AD. The view of St.

Peter's Basilica from the square is unfortunately a bit disappointing; the result of the enlargement of the church carried out by Carlo Maderno, which partly obscures Michelangelo's dome. The Building Front facade Statues on the balustrade The building itself is truly impressive. The largest church in the world, it has a 211.5 meter long nave (694 ft, including the narthex). The basilica's dome is one of the world's largest measuring 42 meters in diameter and reaching 132.5 meters high (more than 434ft). Front Facade The travertine front facade of the basilica was created by Carlo Maderno, who slightly altered Michelangelo's original design by widening the narthex to 114.7 meters. Maderno also placed the massive columns against the walls instead of in front of the building, as Michelangelo had intended. The 45.5 meters (149 ft) high facade is crowned with 5.7 meter tall statues of Christ, John the Baptist and the apostles except for St. Peter. On either side are huge clocks supported by angels and decorated with ornaments and the papal crest.

They were added in the early nineteenth century and are the work of Giuseppe Valadier. Below the clock on the left you can see the church bells. Narthex Altar of St. Jerome The marble floor Five entrances lead to the narthex (the lobby area) of the church, where you find an equestrian statue of Charles the Great on the left and another equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine, created by Bernini. Five doors lead from the narthex to the nave of the basilica. The central bronze door was created in the fifteenth century by the Florentine sculptor and architect Filarete for the old basilica. The door on the right is the Porta Santa, the holy door which is only opened once every twenty-five years. Interior Once inside the nave the enormous size of the church becomes apparent. The basilica has a surface area of 15,160 square meters, enough space to accommodate 60,000 visitors. It is covered by a coffered barrel vault ceiling and a huge central dome. The opulence of the interior bears testimony to the wealth of the Catholic church in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

It is decorated with large monuments, many of which were created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the greatest artists of all time. One of his main creations invariably draws the immediate attention of visitors: the enormous, twenty-six meter high bronze baldachin over the papal altar. The Baroque masterpiece is crafted from bronze that was taken from the ceiling and pediment of the Pantheon . The design of the spiraling columns was inspired by marble columns that originally adorned the crypt of the old basilica. In front of the papal altar is the confessio (burial crypt) that marks the presumed grave of St. Peter. It is encircled by a balustrade with ninety-five bronze oil lamps. The confessio is located right below the majestic dome. Look up and you'll see the impressive colorful vaulting with sixteen ribs that are supported by four massive pillars. The triangular spaces where the pillars meet the dome are decorated with mosaics depicting the evangelists. Light enters through the lantern and the sixteen large windows below the cornice. Huge niches in the pillars hold five meter tall statues of the saints Andrew, Veronica, Helena and Longinus. The latter was created by Bernini, the others by students and assistants of the master.

They stand on pedestals that are almost as tall as the statues that are placed on them. Above the niches are loggias that hold the relics associated with the four saints. The pillar with the statue of Longinus also provides the backdrop for a bronze statue of St. Peter. First thought to be a late-classical work, it is now attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, a thirteenth century architect and sculptor. The apse of the basilica is decorated with a bombastic Baroque work that integrates the Cathedra Petri, the supposed chair of St. Peter. The chair is encapsulated in a bronze throne with reliefs that is supported by four church fathers; Athanasius and Johannes represent the Eastern Church while Ambrose and Augustine represent the Western Church. Above the throne is a large oval window surrounded by numerous angels. The tomb of pope Urban VIII, to the right of the throne, was also created by Bernini. The tomb opposite, of Paul III, is the work of Giacomo della Porta. There are plenty more tombs and sepulchral monuments in St. Peter's, most notably the monument to Alexander VII, another work of Bernini.

It depicts the pope praying in front of a skeleton holding an hourglass. Statues alongside the skeleton represent virtues. One of the figures was originally nude but the prudish pope Innocent XI ordered Bernini to cover it with a marble drape. Another notable monument is the tomb of Innocent VII, sculpted in 1498 by Antonio del Pollaiolo. It is the only papal tomb in the church that was transferred from the original fourth century basilica. The most famous monument in the St. Peter's Basilica is the Pietà, a marble sculpture of a young looking Mary holding the dead body of her son. It was created in 1499-1500 by Michelangelo at the early age of twenty-five. The monument is located in the first chapel on the right. It is the only work of Michelangelo that bears his signature. He etched his name on the ribbon that runs across Mary's chest, allegedly after he heard that people attributed his work to another artist. The sculpture was heavily damaged in 1972 when a deranged visitor hit it with a hammer; it is now protected by a bulletproof glass screen.

Most of the paintings in the church are replicas of the original paintings created for the basilica, many of which are now on display in the Vatican Pinacoteca . The high humidity in the church ruined the oil paintings which started to suffer from mold damage. Some have been replaced by mosaics such as 'The Transfiguration', a painting by Raphael, which was recreated in 1774 as a mosaic by Stefano Pozzi. The floor of the basilica has a colorful marble pattern. Look for the red porphyry disc near the central door. In the old church it was located in front of the main altar. Emperors - most notably Charles the Great (in 800 AD) - were crowned while standing on the disc. There are also bronze markings that compare the size of the church with that of others, including the St. Paul's Cathedral in London and the Cologne Cathedral . Right in front of the left transept is the entrance to the Museo Storico-Artistico (entrance not free), better known as the tesoro or treasury. On display are several historic crucifixes, including the sixth-century Crux Vaticana.

There are also objects taken from the old church, such as a tabernacle created by Donatello. It is also possible to visit the Sacre Grotte or Grotte Vaticane, a necropolis below the nave where you find the graves of more than one hundred popes. The Grotte was created when the floor of the new basilica was built 3.2 meters above the old one. It can be reached via a stair near the statue of Longinus. The Dome and Viewing Platform The dome The lantern The crowning piece of the St. Peter's Basilica is the majestic dome, a masterpiece designed by Michelangelo. The dome has a diameter of 42.34 meters and rests on four massive five-sided pillars. On top of the pillars rests a cylindrical drum - with sixteen large rectangular windows - that supports the ribbed vault. The ribs come together at the oculus on which an enormous lantern is placed. The outside of the drum and lantern are decorated with double Corinthian pillars. There is a viewing platform at the base of the lantern from where you can enjoy an unparalleled panorama over Rome. You have the option of taking the elevator or the stairs, the latter being a bit cheaper.

At the foot of the dome you can walk onto the roof terrace, from where you get a close-up view of the dome. The galleries inside give you a birds-eye view of the interior of the church. From here a long, narrow and spiraling staircase brings you to the top of the dome. The staircase is situated between the inner and outer shells of the dome, so the walls are somewhat slanted. The rather uneasy climb and the entrance fee are definitely worth it though since you are rewarded with one of the best views over the city. Location St. Peter's is located in Vatican City , across the river Tiber, west of Rome's center. Vatican City is completely surrounded by the city of Rome. The nearest subway station is Ottaviano, from where the Via Otaviano leads straight to St. Peter's Square . Entrance to the basilica is free but make sure you are dressed properly since a very strict dress code is enforced.

Bramante, et.al., Saint Peter's Basilica (video) | Khan Academy Bramante, et.al., Saint Peter's Basilica About Numerous architects (see below), Saint Peter's Basilica (Basilica Sancti Petri in Latin) begun 1506 completed 1626, Vatican City. Architectural contributors include: Donato Bramante who's design won Julius II's competition Antonio da Sangallo, a student of Bramante, designed the Pauline Chapel Fra Giocondo strengthened the foundation Raphael worked with Fra Giocondo, his redesigned building plan was not executed Michelangelo designed the dome, crossing, and exterior excluding the nave and facade Giacomo della Porta, designed the cupola Carlo Maderno, extended Michelangelo's plan adding a nave and grand facade Gian Lorenzo Bernini added the piazza, the Cathedra Petri, and the Baldacchino Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker. 6 Surprising Facts About St. Peter's Basilica Home » All Articles » Vatican » 6 Surprising Facts About St. Peter’s Basilica 6 Surprising Facts About St. Peter’s Basilica St.

Peter's Basilica isn't just beautiful... it's fascinatign! St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t just beautiful… it’s fascinating! St. Peter’s Basilica, the ultimate symbol of the Vatican, is one of the most beautiful buildings in Rome. But with a history stretching back 2,000 years, it’s also simply fascinating! Here are 6 surprising facts you might not have known about the “cathedral” of St. Peter. 1) This isn’t the original St. Peter’s Basilica The view from the top of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica The imposing church you see today isn’t the original basilica of St. Peter. It’s actually… number two! The reason? The original church was built in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine, the Roman empire’s first Christian emperor, on the spot where St. Peter was thought to be buried. By the early Renaissance, though, the (literally) ancient church was in serious disrepair. But it took a guy like Pope Julius II (someone with a strong enough personality to go head-to-head with curmudgeonly Michelangelo!) to make the decision to tear down the entire thing… and build a new one.

The result? Thousands of pieces of priceless, ancient art, from mosaics to statues, were destroyed. But the “new” basilica, built from 1506-1626, is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. 2) St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t a cathedral—or the official seat of the Pope True story: For all its importance, St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t the official seat of the Pope. Nor is it first in rank among Rome’s basilicas. Both of those accolades go, instead, to San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran), the mother church of the Roman Catholic church. But because of the size of St. Peter’s, and its location next to the residence of the Pope, most of the Church’s most crucial ceremonies are held here instead. Bernini’s baldacchino is even bigger than it looks! 3) Bernini’s baldacchino is 96 feet tall The four-poster, solid-bronze canopy over the main altar, or the baldacchino of St. Peter’s, appears almost dwarfed by the dome towering right above it. So you might think it’s not that tall. But it is.

It’s almost 10 stories tall—it’s just that the dome, above it, is even bigger: 452 feet. (The baldacchino, by the way, also uses no less than 100,000 pounds of bronze). 4) None of the paintings inside the basilica are actually paintings Huh? No, really. Although, at first glance, the basilica’s interior appears to be elaborately decorated with paintings—from frescoes in the dome to the huge paintings hanging on the walls—it’s not. Every single one of those “paintings” is actually a mosaic, done with such painstaking detail, and such tiny tesserae (the little pieces of glass making the mosaic up), that they only appear to be paintings. 5) Michelangelo’s Pietà is shielded by bullet-proof glass The Pieta, in St. Peter’s Basilica St. Peter’s Basilica is the home to one of Michelangelo’s most famous masterpieces, the Pietà (which, by the way, he carved when he was only 24 years old). But not everyone’s been a fan of the stunning sculpture.

In 1972, a mentally-disturbed man named Laszlo Toth attacked the sculpture with a hammer; he cracked off Mary’s nose and broke off her arm at the elbow. The sculpture was painstakingly restored and returned to St. Peter’s, but now, it’s protected by bullet-proof glass—even as other priceless sculptures in St. Peter’s remain out in the open. 6) Yes, St. Peter might be buried beneath the basilica The reason why Emperor Constantine built the first St. Peter’s Basilica where he did—and why the “new” St. Peter’s was arranged with its altar directly over the same spot—was because this is where St. Peter’s bones were thought to lie. Of course, this was hard to prove. But in the 1940s, excavations were done on the rumored spot. And, in 1953, a set of bones were found. Testing revealed they belonged to a man in his 60s, the same age that Peter would have been. Earth was encrusted on the bones, and Peter originally was buried directly in the dirt.

And the bones had remnants of purple thread, a color of cloth that only would have been used in ancient times to wrap the body of someone who was seen as royal (or holy). For these reasons, Italian archaeologist Margherita Guarducci, among others, argued that the bones belonged to St. Peter. (You can read her argument here ). Of course, others disagree—and it’s certainly not solid proof that the bones are St. Peter’s. But the findings don’t prove that the bones don’t belong to St. Peter, either. What’s your favorite fact—or mystery—about St. Peter’s Basilica? Tell us in the comments!

Question: Which artist was the architect for the dome of St Peter's Basilica, Rome?
Answer: Michelangelo