Basilica of St. Peter

After climbing the dome, we decided to hit the main floor and explore a little.

I felt enlightened to the Catholic faith at this point!



St Peter's Basilica is a beautiful building. It is the largest church in the world and center of the Roman catholic faith.

The first church was build here on the site of St. Peter’s tomb, by Emperor Constantine in AD 349. In the 15th century Pope Julius II ordered the building of a new stone church and appointed Donato Bramante in 1503 as a chief architect of St. Peter’s Basilica. He was succeeded by Michelangelo in 1547. The dome of the church was designed by Michelangelo and is 136.5m (448f) high and 42m in diameter. The nave of St. Peter’s is 218m (715 ft) and the basilica has 45 altars and 11 chapels.

In 1614 the facade was finished by Carlo Maderno and in 1626 St. Peter’s was consecrated. The greatest architects and artists of the Renaissance were involved in the building and designing of this grandest church.

There are some amazing featured works of art!
Below is Bernini's baldacchino over the papal altar.





The Pieta by Michelangelo is maintained behind bullet-proof glass in St. Paul's Cathedral in Rome. This famous marble sculpture was built between 1499 and 1500. A pieta is a work of art that depicts Mary grieving over the body of Christ.



We enjoyed all of the architecture.

It was very crowded... but...



We were in good company!