When I left you yesterday, we has just finished exploring the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel.After gathering our group together, our tour guide led us over to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Since the basilica is adjacent to the Chapel, we only got a peak of St. Peter’s Square before heading inside the Basilica.
From this picture, you can get a good idea of the layout of the square, which was design by Bernini in the 1660s.In the middle, you see a large obelisk.
This obelisk is made of red granite and stands 25 meters tall.It was original erected at Heliopolis about 2000 years before Christ.It was moved to its current location in 1586 and it remains the only obelisk in Rome that has not toppled since Ancient Rome.The obelisk is said to mark the spot where St. Peter was crucified.
On top of the square sit numerous statues which represent many important saints.
After our quick view of the Square, we were ushered into the Basilica’s lush quarters.
St. Peter’s has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world and you can certainly tell that within seconds of walking inside. It covers 5.7 acres and is 187 meters long, 140 meters wide and 46 meters tall.
There has been a basilica in this location since the 4th century but the current structure was built between 1506 and 1626.
The basilica is said to be on the burial site Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples and the first catholic Pope.
The basilica is so large that it contains 25 different altars.Besides being incredibly large, the basilica is ornately decorated, with every surface covered in some kind of precise material, ranging from marble to stucco to gilt to sculptures to mosaic.
We started with the Pieta by Michelangelo. This piece was sculpted out of Carrara marble in 1498 and moved to the Basilica in the 18th century.It represents Jesus lying on Mary’s lap after his crucifixion.This is one of the most unique representations because Michelangelo choose to portray Mary as a young woman, which is historically inaccurate.
The statue was significantly damaged in 1972, when a mentally ill man smashed a hammer against it.After significant restoration efforts, including cutting a piece out of the back of the statue to reconstruct Mary’s nose, the statue was moved toward the front of the Basilica and was placed behind bullet proof glass.
The basilica also holds the remains of several past Popes, including the one pictured above.This pope decided to be embalmed, dipped in wax and placed on display.
Past the displays of the Popes is the Saint Peter Enthroned statue, which scholars believe was created in the 5th century.To match the quote in the Bible, Peter is displayed with a key in his hand.
Tradition states that visitors should rub St. Peter’s feet for good luck.So many people have done this in fact that the foot’s top layer has been rubbed away.
St. Peters Canopy, a 98 foot tall bronze pavilion structure, marks the location of St. Peter’s remains.The bronze was actually pilfered from the Pantheon, giving rise to the famous saying “what the barbarians didn’t do, was done by Barberini” (the Pope that authorized the remove of the bronze).
The twisted shape of the four supporting columns, which took Bernini nine years to make, is said to represent the shape of the column to which Jesus was bound before his crucifixion.
Inscribed on the bottom of the structure in Latin is “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church and I will give you the keys to heaven.”
St. Peter’s tomb is displayed on the lower level of the altar in a silver casket.Surrounding this lower level are 99 oil lamps that burn all day.
Beyond St. Peter’s Canopy is the Cathedra Petri or throne of St. Peter. Bernini was commissioned to create this throne to enshrine a chair said to be used by Peter himself.The bronze throne has statues of four Doctors of the Church, Saints Ambrose and Augustine as well as Athanasius and Jon Chrysostom.
Illuminating the throne is a window of yellow alabaster, which lights the Dove of the Holy Spirit.
We then moved onto to look at some of the other altars sprinkled throughout the church.
This painting marks the Baptistery Chapel designed in 1698.The baptismal font in the center is still used for baptisms at the Basilica.The font is made from red porphyry that used to cover the sarcophagus of Otto II, who died in 983.
After taking all these pictures, I sat back and tried to absorb everything around me.The light streaming in from the dome and the back altar wall was truly moving.
It was as though God was reaching down from the heavens.Even though I’m not Catholic, something about this church and its overwhelming symbolism resonated with me.I felt like I was truly standing on sacred ground.
With that, our day in Rome came to end.It really was a great way to end our day exploring all the nooks and crannies of St. Peters.It’s more magnanimous and grand than these pictures could ever really convey.It certainly is a place you need to experience for yourself.Who knows, maybe you will feel your spirit moved by the undeniable presence of God, even if you aren’t a Catholic.
I can’t emphasize enough how much seeing all these pictures make me miss Rome.It’s a really magical place that everyone should visit at least once in their life.I only hope we can make it back one day.
What You've Missed:MonacoPisa Florence
Ancient RomeVatican Museums Sistine Chapel
Up Next: Pompeii