St Peter’s Basilica

Where do I begin to tell you about St Peter’s Basilica? You’re looking at the most important building in the history of Christianity, which also happens to be the biggest church in the world. But make no mistake, it’s not the seat of the Diocese of Rome; that’s in the Cathedral of St John Lateran. You see, the S. Peter’s Basilica stands head and shoulders above the rest. Its liturgical importance, its fine workmanship given the skill of the artists involved and the immense influence it has had on the world of architecture, make it an absolute masterpiece, brimming with the riches of art history. It is, quite simply, one of the greatest works in the entire history of architecture, so consider yourself lucky to be here. It goes without saying that St Peter’s Basilica is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So how did this church come to be? In the 16th century, Pope Julius II launched a competition to create the greatest edifice in the history of Christianity! They decided to build it on the site of St Peter’s crucifixion. It is said that he was martyred by the Romans in the Circus of Nero. Back in the 4th century, Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, decided to build a basilica and a necropolis on the site of the circus. Legend has it that Saint Peter was buried in this necropolis. So there was another basilica here before the present-day one you was built. But back to the competition! The winner was Bramante, one of the greatest architects of the Renaissance. But, of course, the construction took over a century, so he was succeeded by Raphael, Peruzzi, Da Sangallo and finally Michelangelo in 1547. The basilica was consecrated in 1626. It has a surface area of 23,000 m² and can accommodate up to 60,000 people! As for the iconic façade, it was designed by Maderno. It’s a real eye-catcher, decorated with thirteen colossal statues of Christ and his 12 apostles. Check out the three-level staircase, designed by Bernini, and the Loggia of the Benedictions above the entrance, where they announce the election of new Popes. Now that we’ve seen the beautiful exterior, let’s head inside. First things first. Notice the stars on the floor? They point the way to the different monuments of the Church. Fascinating really! Take a look around. One might say that all this glitz and glamour is somewhat at odds with Jesus’ teachings of simplicity. But you should know tgat the basilica’s 45 altars and 11 chapels are home to art treasures of great historical and artistic value. To name but a few, there’s the striking St Peter’s Baldachin, a gigantic 30-meter-high canopy from which the Pope celebrates Mass. It took Bernini 9 years to create this masterpiece built entirely of bronze and adorned with twisted columns reminiscent of those in Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. Indeed, such was the amount of bronze required that Bernini went so far as to take statues from the Pantheon. The choir is just as impressive, home to the Chair of St Peter which is said to be the episcopal throne of the apostle Simon Peter, the first Pope and bishop of Rome. The Madonna della Pietà is yet another must-see, carved from a single block of marble. Fun fact: it’s the only work Michelangelo ever signed. And last but not least, there’s the dome! It’s the biggest one in the world and a real testament to human engineering prowess! You can even pay a small fee to go up to the top. You’ll get to learn a lot about its architecture and enjoy breathtaking views of the city!