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When In Rome, Visit St. Peter's Basilica - A Vatican City Delight
The popular lore says that Saint Peter is actually buried here but that legend is not backed up by evidence. The real history of the location of St. Peter's is that it probably sits on the original Circus of Nero from the first century.
About 1000 years before St. Peter's was built, the site was dedicated for a basilica by none other than the Christian Roman Emperor Constantine.
Some 1200 years later in the sixteenth century, it was Pope Leo X who diverted funds from his appeal to the masses to go to holy war against the Turks. Those funds were quietly applied to the building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
But as was the way with any very large and ambitious construction effort of that time, it took many, many years, many architects and many Popes before the job was done in the late 16th century.
St. Peter's is a tall building even by sixteenth century standards. From the floor to the very tip of the cross on that famous dome above, the basilica towers 445 feet in the air. That dome is a revered part of the Roman skyline and it is an amazing architectural design all by itself. None other than Michelangelo himself designed the great dome and that famous Renaissance artist employed a double-shell design technique that was created by San Gallo.
Even though Michelangelo was made the architect in charge of St. Peter's in 1546, the completion of the masterpiece came long after his death. With the passing of the great master, one of his students, Giacomo della Porta went on to complete the work in 1590. The design plans of the brilliant architects of St. Peter's are often utilized in other great buildings including the Capital Building in Washington DC.
That dome was so well designed that two centuries passed before stress cracks were found. To correct the problem, four very large chains of iron were attached inside the dome to the pair of shells. If you were to climb the spiral stairs that are still there between the dome shells, you would still see those chains in place.
That magnificent dome is not all there is to St. Peter's Basilica. The interior space of the basilica covers six acres and it can accommodate 60,000 worshipers. And there have been several occasions where it was called upon to host that many people. The many Popes who have used St. Peter's to minister to the church have drawn in such crowds.
The outer facade of St. Peter's that welcome visitors to the hall is quite large, measuring 377 feet wide and over 148 feet tall.
It is said that over 100 tombs of legendary figures from history are buried inside the halls of St. Peter's Basilica. One notable example is Sweden's Queen Christina, who in 1654 gave up her royal post so she could have the freedom to become a Catholic.
There is no doubt that the most revered and valuable art work in the basilica is Michelangelo's Pieta. You will find it behind protective glass after a lunatic attacked it with an ax in 1972.
When you step outside of the basilica you can find quite a few famous historical works of art that are visible around the building.
Look for several very old clocks, including one that actually has a bell and dates back to the last part of the thirteenth century. From that same time period, an Egyptian style obelisk stands nearby, the origin of which goes back to Nero's Circus.
In the square, you will find two fountains both of which were designed by the famed artist Bernini. The southern fountain was created by the master artist in 1675. And to the apse of St. Peter's you will find Bernini's stellar fountain creation, The Triumph of the Chair of Saint Peter.
Your visit to Rome will take on new meaning if you allow at least a couple of hours to take your time and admire this awe inspiring example of Renaissance architecture in the Eternal City.
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If you're looking for cheap accommodation Rome, the Vatican area tends to be slightly less expensive. Rome-Accom.com has over 180 Rome holiday apartments for rent. Visit our site today.
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