St. Peter's Cathedral (Italian: Basilica di San Pietro; St. Peter's Basilica) is a Catholic cathedral, which is the largest building of the Vatican and until recently was considered the largest Christian church in the world. One of the four patriarchal basilicas of Rome and the ceremonial center of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cathedral and St. Peter's Square:
St. Peter's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano; St. Peter's Basilica) is a Catholic cathedral on the territory of the sovereign state of Vatican City. One of the four patriarchal basilicas of Rome and the ceremonial center of the Roman Catholic Church. Until 1990, the Cathedral of St. Peter's in Rome was the largest Christian cathedral in the world; in 1990 it was surpassed by the cathedral in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the African state of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square:
The size of St. Peter's Basilica is simply amazing. It covers an area of 22,067 square meters. m. The height of the cathedral is 189 m, the length without a portico is 186.36 m, and with a portico - 211.5 m. Architectural style: Renaissance and Baroque.
Story
Once upon a time, on the spot where the Cathedral of St. Peter, the gardens of Nero's circus were located (from it, by the way, the obelisk from Heliopolis remained, which to this day stands in St. Peter's Square). In the circus arena during the time of Nero, Christians were martyred. In 67, the Apostle Peter was brought here after the trial. Peter asked that his execution not be compared to Christ’s. Then he was crucified head down. St. Clement, the then bishop of Rome, with the faithful disciples of the apostle, took his body from the cross and buried him in a nearby grotto.
Reconstruction plan for the Circus of Nero:
Reconstruction plan of Nero's Circus, superimposed on the plan of the cathedral. St. Peter's Tomb - St. Peter's grave
The first basilica was built in 324, during the reign of the first Christian emperor Constantine, and the remains of St. Peter, who suffered martyrdom in the circus of Nero in 66. At the second council in 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the West. In the 15th century The basilica, which had existed for eleven centuries, threatened to collapse, and under Nicholas V they began to expand and rebuild it. This issue was radically resolved by Julius II, who ordered the construction of a huge new cathedral on the site of the ancient basilica, which was supposed to eclipse both the pagan temples and the existing Christian churches, thereby helping to strengthen the papal state and spread the influence of Catholicism.
Almost all the major architects of Italy took turns participating in the design and construction of St. Petra. In 1506, the architect's project was approved Donato Bramante , according to which they began to build a centric structure in the shape of a Greek cross (with equal sides).
After Bramante's death, the construction was led by Raphael, who returned to the traditional form of the Latin cross (with an elongated fourth side), then Baldassare Peruzzi, who settled on a centric structure, and Antonio da Sangallo, who chose the basilica form. Finally, in 1546, the management of the work was entrusted to Michelangelo.
He returned to the idea of a central-domed structure, but his project included the creation of a multi-columned entrance portico on the eastern side (in the most ancient basilicas of Rome, as in ancient temples, the entrance was on the eastern, not the western side). Michelangelo made all the supporting structures more massive and highlighted the main space. He erected the drum of the central dome, but the dome itself was completed after his death (1564) by Giacomo della Porta, who gave it a more elongated outline. Of the four small domes, provided for by the project Michelangelo, the architect Vignola, built only two. To the greatest extent, the architectural forms exactly as they were conceived by Michelangelo have been preserved on the altar, western side.
But the story didn't end there. At the beginning of the 17th century. At the direction of Paul V, the architect Carlo Maderna lengthened the eastern branch of the cross - he added a three-nave basilica part to the centric building, thus returning to the shape of the Latin cross, and built a facade. As a result, the dome turned out to be a hidden facade, lost its dominant meaning and is only perceived from a distance, from Via della Concigliazione.
An area was required that could accommodate large number the faithful flocking to the cathedral to receive the papal blessing or take part in religious celebrations. Completed this task Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini , who created in 1656-1667. The square in front of the cathedral is one of the most outstanding works of world urban planning practice.
St. Peter's Square. Bernini:
Facade
The height of the facade, built by the architect Carlo Maderna, is 45 m, width - 115 m. The attic of the facade is crowned with huge, 5.65 m high, statues of Christ, John the Baptist and the eleven apostles (except for the Apostle Peter). From the portico, five portals lead to the cathedral.
Carlo Maderna (Maderna; 1556-1629) - Roman architect, student of his uncle, Domenico Fontana. He immortalized his name mainly by completing the construction (in 1605-1613) of St. Peter's Cathedral.
Facade of St. Peter's Basilica. Architect Carlo Maderna:
Statues of the Apostles Peter and Paul:
At Easter 1847, Pope Pius IX decided to replace the statues of the apostles Peter and Paul that stood in front of the cathedral. The old statues were moved to the library of Sixtus IV, and in their place were placed statues made for St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. Author: Venetian sculptor Giuseppe De Fabris, 1838-1840. In the right hand of the apostle - the keys to paradise, on the left is a scroll with the words “ET TIBI DABO CLAVES REGNI CAELORUM” (and I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Matthew 16:19).
The author of the statue of St. Paul is Adamo Tadolini, 1838. In the right hand of the apostle is a sword, his symbol, in the left is a scroll with the words “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me,” Phil. 4:13, in Yiddish.
The doors of the central portal were made in the middle of the 15th century. and come from the old basilica. Opposite this portal, above the entrance to the portico, is a famous mosaic by Giotto from the late 13th century. "Navichella". The reliefs of the leftmost portal - the “Gate of Death” - were created in 1949-1964. by the great sculptor Giacomo Manzu. The image of Pope John XXIII is very expressive.
The Doors of Death are so named because funeral processions usually exited through these doors.
In preparation for the 1950 anniversary, Pope Pius XII announced a competition in 1947 to create three doors leading from the portico to the cathedral. The most outstanding artist among the winners was Giacomo Manzu. The door was made in 1961-64. 10 scenes on the doors express the Christian meaning of death. At the top right is the crucifixion of the Savior, on the left is the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Below are reliefs with a bunch of grapes and a sheaf of ears of grain, which simultaneously serve as door handles. When grapes and wheat die, they turn into wine and bread. During the sacrament of the Eucharist, they are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, that is, into the bread of life and the wine of salvation.
Below on the right are depicted: the death of the first martyr St. Stephen; the death of Pope Gregory VII, defending the Church from the claims of the emperor; death imporvised in space; death of mother at home in front of crying child.
"Gate of Death":
Gate of Death (fragment):
Bottom left (detail): depicts the murder of Abel, the peaceful death of Joseph, the crucifixion of St. Peter and the death of the “good pope” John XXIII.
There are five doors leading into the cathedral. The last door on the right is the Holy (3.65 m x 2.30 m), and it opens only in the Holy, or jubilee year, celebrated every quarter of a century.
Holy Gate:
From the inside of the cathedral, the Holy Door is walled up with concrete; a bronze cross and a small square box are attached to the concrete, in which the key to the door is stored. Every 25 years, on Christmas Eve (December 25), the concrete is broken before the anniversary year. In accordance with a special ritual, after three kneelings and three blows of the hammer, the Holy Door swings open and the pope, taking the cross in his hands, is the first to enter the cathedral. At the end of the Jubilee Year, the door is closed again and sealed for the next 25 years.
Walled Holy Gate (with Cross):
The holy gates are open. John Paul II walks through the door in 2000:
On December 24, 1949, the wooden panels, made in 1749, were replaced with bronze ones, by Vico Consorti, "master of doors" as he is called.
16 rectangular panels are separated by the coats of arms of the 36 popes who celebrated their next jubilee years. The main theme of the scenes depicted on the panels is the atonement of human sins by the grace of God.
The Lord knocks on everyone's door and waits for us to open it for him.
Panels of the Holy Door. 1st row:
Panels of the Holy Door. 2nd row:
Panels of the Holy Door. 3rd row:
Panels of the Holy Door. 4th row:
Jubilee year periodically proclaimed Holy year, during which the possibility of special absolution was allowed. This tradition has its origins in the Book of Leviticus of the Old Testament of the Bible (25:10): “... and sanctify the fiftieth year and declare freedom on the earth to all its inhabitants: this shall be your jubilee; and return every one to his possessions, and every one return to his tribe.”
The Hebrew word yo-bale" (hence the word "jubilee") means the sound of the shofar, the ram's horn, which announced the advent of the Year of Jubilee. Throughout the year, work in the fields was suspended, and slaves were set free. Houses sold or mortgaged (except those outside the walls cities or in the Holy Land) were returned free of charge to their original owner or his rightful heir, and all debts were released.
The Catholic Church associated the receipt of indulgences and the abolition of imposed penances with the jubilee years. The Holy Year was first celebrated in 1300 by decree of Pope Boniface VIII. Jubilee years were to be celebrated every hundred years, at the beginning of a new century. After Boniface VIII, it was decided to celebrate the anniversary every 50 years, then every 33 years (in honor of the earthly life of Christ). In 1470, Pope Paul II adopted a new decree: jubilee years should be celebrated every 25 years, so that each new generation could take part in the jubilee; A tradition arose obliging us to celebrate anniversary years at the beginning of each quarter of a century. At the beginning of the year 2000, called the Great Jubilee, Pope John Paul II, for the first time in history, pronounced a lengthy Mea Culpa on behalf of the Catholic Church, asking for forgiveness of sins committed by members of the church throughout history.
Interior
Inside, the cathedral amazes with its harmony of proportions, its enormous size, and the richness of its decoration - there are a lot of statues, altars, tombstones, and many wonderful works of art.
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican. View inside St. Peter's Basilica
from the main entrance:
Central nave
The total length of the basilica is 211.6 m. On the floor of the central nave there are marks showing the dimensions of other largest cathedrals in the world, which allows them to be compared with the largest, the Cathedral of St. Petra.
At the end of the central nave, near the last pillar on the right, there is a statue of St. Peter's from the 13th century, attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio. The statue is credited with miraculous properties, and numerous pilgrims reverently place their lips on the bronze leg.
St. Peter Statue:
Statue of St. Peter (this is how the foot was cut off by the kisses of pilgrims):
The dome, an architectural masterpiece, has a height of 119 m inside and a diameter of 42 m. It is supported by four powerful pillars. Pope Julius II laid the first stone of the new cathedral on April 18, 1506 at the base of one of these pillars (with a statue of St. Veronica).
Dome of St. Peter's Basilica:
In 1624, Urban VIII ordered Bernini to create 4 loggias in these pillars to store relics. Bernini's role in the creation of the sculptural decoration of the cathedral is very great; he worked here intermittently for almost fifty years, from 1620 to 1670.
Below the loggias, in the niches of the pillars, there are huge statues corresponding to the relics kept in the loggias. Currently, some of these relics are located in other places.
Statue of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
The relic is the head of a saint.
The relic was brought to Venice by Thomas Palaiolagos, the last ruler of Morea, fleeing the Turkish invasion of the Peloponnese, and presented to Pius II (1460). As a sign of friendship with the Greek Orthodox Church, in 1966 Pope Paul VI presented the relic as a gift to the Church of St. Andrew in the city of Patras, where the saint died.
The relic is the spear of Longinus.
Like his predecessors, Pope Innocent VIII tried to stop the Turkish invasion, but he succeeded without the crusade he had planned to undertake. Pierre d "Aubusson captured Djem, the brother and rival of Sultan Bayezid II. The Sultan and the pope entered into an agreement in 1489, according to which Djem was held captive in Rome, and the Sultan left Europe and paid a ransom every year. In 1492, Bayezid gave the pope a fragment of a spear, which was believed to have belonged to the centurion Longinus (information from saintpetersbasilica.org).
Statue of Holy Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles:
Relic - particles of the Life-giving Cross.
Many fragments of the Holy Cross kept in the cathedral were donated to other churches. Therefore, Pope Urban VIII decided the particles kept in the Church of St. Anastasia and the Cathedral of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Italian: Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which means “Holy Cross in Jerusalem” - one of the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome, located south of the Lateran ), move to St. Peter's Cathedral.
Statue of Saint Veronica. Author - Francesco Mochi, 1629:
Relic - part of the board with the image of Jesus Christ.
In the under-dome space above the main altar is Bernini's first work in the cathedral (1633) - a huge, 29 m high canopy (ciborium) on four twisted columns on which stand statues of angels, by Francois du Duquesnoy. Among these angels, one pair of angels holds the symbols of the pope - the keys and tiara, the other pair of angels holds the symbols of St. Paul - a book and a sword.
Ciborium (canopy) Baldacchino. Bernini:
The unusual shape of the columns repeats the silhouette of a twisted column from the Temple of Solomon, brought to Rome after the capture of Jerusalem. Among the laurel branches on the upper parts of the columns are visible the heraldic bees of the Barberini family. The ciborium required a huge amount of bronze. 100,000 pounds (37 or 45 tons, it all depends on which pound was used for measurements) were removed from the dome of the cathedral, then the same amount was sent from Venice and Livorno. When this was not enough, by order of Pope Urban VIII (Barberini), the structures that supported the roof of the Pantheon portico were dismantled. It was then that Pasquino said his catchphrase: “Quod non fecerunt Barbari fecerunt Barberini” (what the barbarians did not destroy, Barberini destroyed).
Although the canopy does not look particularly large in the interior of the cathedral, it is equal in height to a 4-story building. Bernini's masterpiece became the personification of the Baroque style.
The main altar is called the papal altar because only the Pope can celebrate Mass in front of it. The altar was consecrated by Pope Clement VIII on June 5, 1594. The altar was made of a large piece of marble brought from the forum of Emperor Nerva.
The main altar is called papal:
In front of the altar there is a staircase leading down to the tomb of St. Petra. This descent is called Confessio (confessional), because it can be considered as a cut-out window in the confessional, through which believers could turn their gaze to the shrine, hidden deep underground, where part of the relics of St. Apostle Peter.
“Confessional” of the Apostle Peter (under the floor is the place of the apostle’s supposed burial):
Place of storage of the relics of St. Peter the Apostle:
Through the canopy one can see the Cathedral of St., located in the central apse and also created by Bernini. Petra.
The Chair of Saint Peter:
It includes the chair of St., supported by four statues of the church fathers. Peter, above which the symbol of the Holy Spirit hovers in radiance. To the right of the pulpit is the tombstone of Pope Urban VIII works Bernini, on the left is the tombstone of Paul III (16th century) by Guglielmo della Porta, one of Michelangelo’s students.
Chair of St. Peter and Glory (fragment) Church Fathers
Church Fathers - an honorary title used since the end of the 4th century in relation to a group of prominent church leaders and writers of the past, whose authority had special weight in the formation of dogma, the compilation of the canon - the list of the Holy Books of the Bible (the separation of inspired books from apocryphal ones), hierarchical organization, and worship Churches. It is believed that the Fathers of the Church are distinguished by Orthodoxy of teaching, holiness of life, recognition of the Church and antiquity. The philosophical and theological teaching of the Church Fathers is called patristics.
In 1568, Pope St. Pius V recognized four Orthodox saints as Fathers of the Church: John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and Athanasius of Alexandria.
Saints Ambrose of Milan, Athanasius the Great, John Chrysostom and Blessed Augustine:
On February 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Apostle Peter, which is a symbol of his preaching of the Word of God in Rome. Actually, a simple wooden chair served as the pulpit for St. Peter. Subsequently, it was strengthened and decorated, as is believed in Byzantium. Bernini built the composition so that it seems that the pulpit is floating in the clouds, supported by the Fathers of the Church (statues 5 m high). The base of the altar is made of Aquitanian black and white marble and jasper from Sicily.
Right nave
First on the right is the Chapel of the Pieta, before the Crucifixion. The chapel was renamed in 1749 after Michelangelo's Pietà was moved here, having previously changed several places in the cathedral. The chapel is decorated with mosaics made by F. Cristofari according to drawings by Ferri and Pietro da Cortona. The latter is called the Bernini of painting because of the quantity and significance of his works for the cathedral. Above the altar is the fresco "Triumph of the Cross" by Lanfranco, the only fresco from the cathedral not translated into mosaic. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament contains the only oil painting in the cathedral.
Chapel of the Pieta, before the Crucifixion:
The chapel contains Michelangelo's masterpiece - the marble Pieta. It was created by Michelangelo at the age of 25 at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. The order for the sculptural group was received on August 26, 1498 from Cardinal Jean Bilheres de Lagraulas, ambassador French king; the work was completed around 1500 after the death of the cardinal, who died in 1498. The sculpture was intended for the tomb of the cardinal. The pedestal was made by Francesco Borromini in 1626.
Pieta, or lamentation of Christ. Michelangelo:
After the attacker attempted to break the statue, it was protected with glass.
On May 21, 1972, on the Saturday before Trinity, Laszlo Toth, a Hungarian from Australia, shouting “I, Jesus Christ!” struck the sculpture 15 times with a hammer. All blows fell on the Mother of God. Two years before this attack, a German knocked off two fingers from the statue of Pope Pius VI.
Nearby is a magnificent wooden crucifix from the late 13th to early 14th centuries, attributed to Pietro Cavallini.
Next to the Pietà there is a small chapel of the Blessed Sacraments.
Chapel of the Holy Sacraments:
The entrance to the chapel is closed by a forged lattice, made according to a drawing by Borromini. The entrance to the chapel is closed to tourists. You can only come here for prayers.
Magnificent tabernacle by Bernini (1674), gilded bronze:
The central part of the tabernacle is made in the form of a Tempietto rotunda chapel by the architect Bramante (1502), located in the courtyard of the monastery of San Pietro in Montorio on the Janiculian Hill (eighth hill) in Rome.
Next to the Chapel of the Holy Sacraments is the tombstone of Gregory XIII,
On the left is an allegory of Religion, holding tablets with the law of God. On the right is Knowledge.
Tombstone of Pope Gregory XIII:
The bas-relief recalls the reform carried out by the pope - the introduction of a new calendar (Gregorian). October 4, 1582 was followed by October 15. October 4 is the day of remembrance of St. Francis, which should never have been missed. The pope is depicted with eminent astronomers and mathematicians, including Jesuit Priest Ignatius Danti, Father Clavius of Bamberg, and Antonio Lilio of Calabria. The dragon below is the heraldic animal of the Boncompagni family.
Pope Clement XI, persuaded by Candinal Buoncompagni ( cousin Gregory), ordered this new tombstone.
Tombstone of Matilda of Canossa:
In 1077, in Canossa, the castle of the Margravess Matilda, the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, who had been excommunicated and deposed, humbly begged forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII.
Pope Urban VIII ordered this tombstone at the end of 1633. He wanted to honor the memory of this outstanding woman. On March 10, 1634, her body was transported from Mantua to the cathedral, where the tombstone was already ready.
The bas-relief by Stefano Speranza depicts Henry IV kneeling before Gregory VII on January 28, 1077.
At the top of the arch, Matteo Bonarelli, Andrea Bolgi and Lorenzo Flori sculpted putti holding a crown, a coat of arms and the motto: TUETUR ET UNIT (I protect and unite).
Altar of Saint Jerome:
Altarpiece "Last Communion of St. Jerome" by the artist Domenichino, 1614. Translated into mosaic in 1744. The famous painting is now kept in the Pinacoteca of the Vatican. The painting depicts St. Jerome receiving last communion from St. Ephraim, who is helped by St. Paula.
Hieronymus of Stridonsky
Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus (lat. Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; 342, Stridon on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia - September 30, 419 or 420, Bethlehem) - church writer, ascetic, creator of the canonical Latin text of the Bible. He is revered in both the Orthodox and Catholic traditions as a saint and one of the teachers of the Church. Saint Jerome's Day is celebrated by Catholics on September 30th. Memory in the Russian Orthodox Church (referred to as Jerome the Blessed) - June 15 (after Julian calendar), in the Greek Orthodox Church - June 15.
Tombstone of Clement XIII. Sculptor Canova (1792):
Left nave
Tombstone of Alexander VII by Bernini, 1678. The last masterpiece of the 80-year-old Bernini.
Tombstone of Alexander VII, sculptor Bernini (1678):
The Pope is depicted kneeling surrounded by allegories of Mercy (with children, sculptor G. Mazzuoli), Truth (resting his left foot on the globe, sculptors Morelli and Cartari), Prudence (sculptor G. Cartari), and Justice (sculptor L. Balestri). Initially the figures were naked, but on the orders of Innocent XI Bernini draped the statues in metal.
Altar "Transfiguration of the Lord". Raphael, 1520:
Cardinal Giuliano di Medici, the future Pope Clement VII, commissioned this painting in 1517 from Raphael for the French cathedral in the city of Narbonne - the cardinal's see. Having completed only the face of Jesus Christ, Raphael died on Good Friday in 1520. The painting was completed by Raphael's students - Giuliano Romano and Francesco Penni. Vasari wrote that the unfinished painting was displayed near the head of Raphael's deathbed, breaking the hearts of everyone who saw it. The painting remained in Rome in the Palazzo Cancelleria, and was then placed in the Church of San Pietro in Montorio after 1523. In 1797 Napoleon took it to Paris, the painting was returned back in 1815. The female figure below symbolizes the Church, which gives peace, hope and faith.
The film combines two plots - the transfiguration of Christ and the episode about the meeting of the apostles with a demon-possessed boy who was healed by Jesus Christ, who descended from Mount Tabor. The painting itself is now in the Vatican Pinacoteca, and in the cathedral there is a mosaic copy of it.
Of great interest is the work created in the 1490s. The tombstone of Innocent VIII by the sculptor Antonio Pollaiolo is one of the few surviving monuments that were still in the old basilica.
Tombstone of Innocent VIII (1498), sculptor Antonio Pollaiolo:
Tombstone of Pope Innocent VIII (1498), fragment:
In his left hand, the pope holds the tip of the Holy spear, with which the centurion Longinus pierced the crucified Christ to ensure his death. This tip was presented to the Pope by the Turkish Sultan Bayezid II, in exchange for his sworn enemy, who was also the Sultan’s brother, being held captive in Rome. The tip of this arrowhead, kept in Paris, disappeared during the French Revolution.
Not far from the entrance you see another creation by the sculptor Canova - the tombstone of the last representatives of the Scottish royal Stuart family.
Tombstone of the last representatives of the Scottish royal family Stuart:
Ancient Roman Basilica of St. Peter
The area where St. Peter's Cathedral is located has its own history, which dates back to Ancient Rome. In the second half of the 1st century AD, it was erected here. In ancient times, circuses served as entertainment facilities for various competitions and performances. However, Nero also turned his circus into a place for executions, where Christians were tortured with particular cruelty. Among them was the Apostle Peter, who in 67 died on the cross in the arena of the Circus of Nero (he was crucified upside down). Peter’s remains were buried here, in the adjacent “circus” cemetery. Soon Peter's grave became special place veneration for Roman Christians, who subsequently decided that when they were able to build their first temple, its altar would be located precisely at the burial site of St. Peter.
As is known, only under Emperor Constantine (beginning of the 4th century) persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ was stopped, and Christianity received the status of the dominant religion. The emperor contributed in every possible way to the construction of the first Christian temple, which received the name. Construction work has been completed in 326. The attraction immediately became the main center of pilgrimage in Rome. All coronations of elected pontiffs took place within the walls of the basilica, and in 800 Charlemagne was proclaimed Holy Roman Emperor here.
In 846 the basilica was plundered by the Saracens. Knowing that colossal treasures were located in the large temples of Rome, the Saracen warriors plundered those that were outside the walls of Aurelian (including St. Peter's Basilica).
In the middle of the 15th century, the old basilica, which had existed for eleven centuries, was in a dilapidated state, so Pope Nicholas V began reconstruction and expansion work. However, a fundamental decision was made only by Julius II, who, wanting to strengthen papal influence, ordered the construction of a cathedral in its place, larger in size than all existing religious buildings in the world.
Construction of St. Peter's Basilica
The author of the architectural project for the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral cannot be called one person, since over a long period of time several famous masters were involved in the development and construction. First to start work in 1506 architect Donato Bramante, whose project included the construction of a structure in the shape of a Greek cross, and after his death he took up construction Rafael Santi, which returned the appearance of the Latin cross (that is, the temple was distinguished by one elongated side). Construction then continued under the leadership of Baldassare Peruzzi, and after him Antonio da Sangallo also contributed.
Almost 40 years later, a famous painter, sculptor and architect was assigned to lead the construction work. Michelangelo Buonarotti. His idea of a cathedral centered around a central dome became fundamental. Having strengthened the foundation of the structure and made it more monumental, great architect designed a multi-column entrance portico and erected the drum of the central dome. Michelangelo's project included four additional small domes, but after his death only two were realized by the architect Vignola, and the central dome was already erected Giacomo della Porta.
The reconstruction and rebuilding of St. Peter's Cathedral did not end there, and at the beginning of the 17th century, by the will of Paul V, the architect Carlo Maderna enlarged the eastern side of the structure by adding a three-nave basilica, and erected a façade on the western side. As a result, the dome was hidden by the monumental facade, lost its dominant significance and is only perceived from a distance (from Via della Conciliazione, which leads to St. Peter's Square). November 18, 1626 Pope Urban VIII consecrated St. Peter's Basilica.
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Main facade
The monumental facade measures 45 by 115 meters and is topped by a cornice with an attic on which are installed statues of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and the eleven apostles, with the exception of the Apostle Peter. Statues of the apostles Paul (with a sword in his hand) and Peter (with the key to the Kingdom of Heaven) are located in front of the entrance to the cathedral. The architrave contains the inscription “Pope Paul V Borghese, Roman Pontiff in the year 1612, the seventh year of his pontificate, erected in honor of the Prince of the Apostles” (IN HONOREM PRINCIPIS APOST PAVLVS V BVRGHESIVS ROMANVS PONT MAX AN MDCXII PONT VII). The entrance to the cathedral is served by five portals:
Filaret portal(central portal). Made in bronze in the middle of the 15th century for the ancient Basilica of Constantine. The panels contain images of Christ enthroned, the Madonna enthroned, St. Peter and St. Paul. The lower panels show scenes of the martyrdom of two saints. On the left is the “Beheading of St. Paul,” on the right is the “Crucifixion on the Inverted Cross of St. Peter.” The portal is crowned with a bas-relief by Bernini “Jesus Entrusts Peter with the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
holy portal(last portal on the right). Made by Vico Consorti in bronze in 1950. The portal is opened only in the Holy Jubilee Year, that is, once every 25 years. From inside the cathedral, the Holy Portal is walled up with stonework. On Christmas Eve, the masonry is dismantled, and after kneeling three times, the current pontiff enters first. At the end of the Jubilee Year, the portal is walled up for the next 25 years.
Portal of Death(first portal on the left). Manufactured in 1964. A procession passes through it during the funeral of the pontiff. The portal is decorated with images of the Holy Sepulcher, symbols of the Eucharist (bread, wine and vine branches), scenes of the murder of Abel, the death of Joseph and the martyrdom of St. Peter.
Portal of Good and Evil. Made by Luciano Minguzzi in the 70s of the 20th century.
Mystery Portal. Made by master Venanzo Crocetti commissioned by Paul VI, who first opened it in September 1965. The portal is decorated with an angel who announces the seven sacraments.
Dome
The dome of the cathedral, 138 meters high, rests on columns and is considered the tallest in the world. The inner surface of the dome is decorated with images of the four evangelists: Mark with a lion, Luke with an ox, John with an eagle and Matthew with the angel who guided his hand while writing the Gospel. The lion, eagle and ox are the so-called “apocalyptic beasts”, which John the Theologian writes about as animals that surrounded the throne of God. Around the inner circumference of the dome there is an inscription two meters high: “You are Peter, and on this stone I will build My Church and give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” (TV ES PETRVS ET SVPER HANC PETRAM AEDIFICABO ECCLESIAM MEAM TIBI DABO CLAVES REGNI CAELORVM). At the bottom of the lantern there is a dedication: “To the glory of St. Peter, Sixtus V in the year 1590, in the fifth year of the pontificate” (S. PETRI GLORIAE SIXTVS PP. V. A. M. D. XC. PONTIF. V).
Before his death, Michelangelo only managed to finish the supports and drum of the dome. Further work was carried out by his student Giacomo da Vignola with the participation of Giorgio Vasari. However, 19 years later, under the new Pope Sixtus V, Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana were appointed responsible for the construction. While completing the construction of the dome, the architects tried not to deviate from the plans of the author of the project, Michelangelo, and already in 1590 all work was completed. During the pontificate of Clement VIII, a cross was installed on the dome of the cathedral, on which were attached two small shrines with the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called, a particle of the Life-Giving Cross and a medallion of the Lamb of God.
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Interior space
The interior of St. Peter's Cathedral is richly decorated with sculptures, bas-reliefs, paintings and other works of art. The central nave, on the floor of which there are marks that determine the size of the largest cathedrals in the world, is fenced. On the right, at the end of the main passage, there is a sculpture of St. Peter from the 13th century, which is considered miraculous, so every visitor tries to touch it.
In the center of the cathedral stands the main altar, at which only the Pope can serve mass. The altar is decorated with a monumental ciborium Bernini, mounted on four twisted columns that are topped with sculptures of angels. The height of the magnificent ciborium corresponds to a 4-story building. The unusual shape of the columns repeats the silhouette of a twisted column from the Temple of Solomon, taken to Rome after the capture of Jerusalem. The bronze for the ciborium was barbarously borrowed from the ancient Roman Pantheon by order of Urban VII.
The main apse of the cathedral, also created by Bernini, contains the tombstones of Urban VIII and Paul III. Here is also the pulpit of St. Peter, where four statues of the church fathers support the throne of St. Peter.
On the right side of the nave is the Chapel of Mercy, where there is a sculptural group Pieta or Lamentation of Christ, the work of 24-year-old Michelangelo. Despite the fact that this is one of the first works of the young sculptor, it testifies to the full maturity of the work of Michelangelo, who deliberately emphasized the youth of the Madonna as a symbol eternal life. Next comes the Chapel of Saint Sebastian, where there is a large mosaic of the Martyrdom of San Sebastian, designed based on a painting by Domenichino, Pier Paolo Cristofari. In the altar of the chapel is the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II. Further along the passage there are monuments to Innocent XII by Filippo della Valle and Matilda Canossa's tombstone, Tuscan Margravine, which precedes the entrance to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The entrance to the chapel leads through an iron gate, the lattice pattern of which is made according to a sketch by Borromini. The chapel was designed by Carlo Maderna. Inside is the tabernacle of the Holy Communion in gilded bronze by Lorenzo Bernini, dating from 1674, as well as the Trinity altarpiece, a work by Pietro da Carton. In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the “kissing the foot” ritual took place, when believers kissed the remains of deceased pontiffs before their burial. This practice was stopped by Pius XII, whose body was displayed in the central nave after his death. Two monuments to Gregory XIII and Gregory XIV block the right passage.
The left nave is opened by the Chapel of the Baptism, designed by Carlo Fontana and decorated with mosaics by Giovanni Battista Gaulli, which were completed after his death by Francesco Trevisani. The altar mosaic painting was made in imitation of the painting of Carlo Maratta, whose painting is currently in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Angele. Immediately behind the chapel is the tomb of the granddaughter of the Polish King John III, Maria Clementina Sobieska, with a tombstone by Pietro Bracci. The nearby Chapel of the Presentation houses the body of Pius X, and along the walls are monuments to John XXIII and Benedict XV, made in the 20th century. Nearby is the small Chapel of the Crucifixion, which houses a magnificent wooden crucifix dating from the early 14th century, believed to be the work of Pietro Cavallini. Of interest is the tombstone of Innocent VIII, created by the sculptor Antonio Pollaiolo in 1490, which was still in the old basilica. St. Peter's Cathedral also houses one of the last representatives of the Scottish royal Stuart dynasty, whose tombstone completed famous sculptor Antonio Canova.
On the southern side of the middle cross there is a mosaic-reproduced famous painting Raphael "Transfiguration". Further along the south transept is an unusual monument to Alexander VII, created by Lorenzo Bernini. In this sculptural composition, the Pope is depicted not according to church canons, sitting on a throne, but on his knees, immersed in prayer. In front of the pontiff there is a drapery of red marble, on which are supported on both sides by statues representing “Charity” and “Truth” on the one hand and “Justice” and “Prudence” on the other. In the center, from under a magnificent drapery, a skeleton figure is shown holding an hourglass with golden sand, as a symbol of the tireless flow of earthly life. This Baroque composition is considered one of Bernini's notable works.
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Monuments and gravestones
Sacristy
The sacristy was originally located in the Rotunda of St. Andrew on the south side of the cathedral, as a mausoleum of the imperial era of the second half of the 18th century. During several attempts to reconstruct the old sacristy, a design competition was announced in 1715, where the architect Philip Astoria won. He proposed to build a separate room for the sacristy as an extension to the existing cathedral. However, due to high construction costs, the construction of a new sacristy was delayed. It was only in 1776 that Pius VI commissioned Carlo Marchionni to build the sacristy, which we see today. The architect adhered to the general style decision and tried to fit it into the architecture of the cathedral. Currently, it houses the Museum of the Treasures of St. Peter's Basilica, which houses the main sacred artifacts Catholic Church. Entry to the museum requires a separate ticket.
Confessional (tomb) of St. Peter
As a result of archaeological excavations initiated by Pius XII, the foundations of an ancient Roman basilica and the ruins of a Romanesque necropolis were discovered. Upon further research, bones wrapped in precious purple fabric were found in one of the niches of the necropolis in 1953. The discovery gave Pope Paul VI the basis to assert that, in all likelihood, these relics are the remains of the body of St. Peter. They are now in a tomb called the Confessional of St. Peter. You can go down to the Confessional along the double marble staircase, which is located in front of the main altar.
Interesting! The costs of building St. Peter's Cathedral turned out to be so great that to cover them, Pope Leo X had to sell the right to implement indulgences in the German lands to Albrecht of Brandenburg. The latter turned out to be an extremely greedy businessman. His abuse of indulgences became one of the reasons for the protest ideas of Luther, the Reformation and the subsequent split of Europe.
entrance ticket
The Temple of St. Peter in Rome is considered the largest church in the world with sacred meaning for Christianity. The luxurious decoration of the cathedral represents a tribute to the Apostle Peter, whose ashes rest in the temple. The cathedral consists of numerous chapels decorated with sculptural compositions and religious relics.
In the 1st century AD, Nero was the emperor of the Roman state. His reign was marked by high growth in the economy and well-being of citizens, as well as the manifestation cruel temperament. In Rome, new residential areas for plebeians, luxurious palaces for aristocrats, baths and circuses were erected. All that remained untouched was a piece of land on a high hill on the other side of the Tiber. The place was used for executions of people convicted according to the laws of ancient Rome.
In 64, Rome was engulfed in a devastating fire. Nero blamed this on the Christians, whom he subjected to terrible persecution. At this time, the capital of the great empire was visited by a certain wanderer from the province of Judea, named Simon. He was a disciple of Jesus, from whom he received the nickname “stone” (in Greek - petros). They began to call him Peter. The follower of Christ was accused of preaching a new faith, for which the Roman authorities sentenced the apostle to be crucified upside down. The convict was executed on the top of a hill, where the body was buried. Subsequently, Christians erected a memorial wall at the burial site.
In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity. A small basilica was built over Peter's grave. In 1500, the Temple of Constantine was demolished due to the dilapidation of the walls. Pope Julius II undertook the construction of a new basilica. Donato Bramante was appointed architect. According to his project, it was planned to erect a grandiose building topped with a massive dome. The premature death of the architect stopped construction. Subsequent architects were unable to definitively determine the appearance of the cathedral.
In 1546, the construction of the basilica was led by Michelangelo, who wanted to implement Bramante's idea. The temple should be represented in the form of a Greek equilateral cross. The entire structure of the cathedral from the base to the top of the dome should rest on a high drum, which is surrounded by slender columns. The coming Baroque era left its mark on the architecture of the temple. A wide space was required that could accommodate a large gathering of believers. It was decided to lengthen the nave of the basilica and add several chapels. In 1626, Pope Urban VIII solemnly consecrated St. Peter's Basilica.
Description and architecture
An elliptical square bordered by graceful sixteen-meter columns leads to St. Peter's Basilica. In its central part there is an obelisk, the height of which is 240 meters. The grand size of the temple is also impressive. Its length is 211 meters, and the height of the dome is 136 meters. The cathedral can accommodate 60 thousand people. The central element of the church's design is a dome with a cross on top. This is a massive piece architectural art considered a symbol of the Vatican. The dome with sixteen ribs rests on a massive drum decorated with Corinthian columns. There are sixteen windows in the hemisphere.
The facade of the cathedral, built in the 17th century by the architect Karl Moderna, is decorated with pilasters and consists of two tiers with an attic. In the lower part there are five bronze gates, the panels of which are decorated with images of Old Testament scenes. Each portal has its own name: the Gates of Good and Evil, Death, Sacraments, Philaret and the Holy Gates. Above them are nine windows, three of which have balconies. The attic is bordered by a balustrade and crowned with huge five-meter statues of Christ and the apostles. On the sides of the facade there are sculptures of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter holds in his hands the keys to the Kingdom in Heaven, handed to him by the Lord. The Apostle Paul holds a naked sword in his hands.
Interior
The halls of the cathedral amaze with their rich decoration and enormous size. The walls and ceilings are decorated with bas-reliefs and sculptures. Twenty-three-meter arched vaults lead to numerous chapels and precious church relics. The cathedral is the burial place of the Popes, whose tombs are located along the naves. One of the masterpieces located in St. Peter's Basilica is sculptural work Michelangelo - Pietà. The master depicted the Virgin Mary crying over the body of Christ. A woman holds Jesus on her lap. The artist emphasized the inextricable unity of mother and son. The sculptor carved the figures from one block of marble. The sculpture is protected by bulletproof glass.
In the niches of the huge pilasters under the dome there are statues reminiscent of the torment of Christ. There you can see Saint Longinus holding the spear with which he pierced the chest of Jesus. Nearby, Saint Veronica shows a scarf depicting the face of Christ. Nearby stands Saint Helena with a massive cross. The inner surface of the dome is decorated with images of the apostles with their symbols: Mark with a lion, John with an eagle, Matthew with an angel, Luke with an ox.
On the frieze, a gilded phrase in Latin reads about Christ’s parting words to his disciple Peter. The bronze statue of Saint Peter seated on a throne is a highly revered sculpture for parishioners. The apostle holds a key in his left hand, and his right hand is raised in a gesture of blessing. Peter's foot is pushed forward slightly beyond the base of the pedestal so that believers passing by can kiss it.
The cathedral houses the magnificent mausoleums of the sculptor Bernini, which are framed by columns and relief ornaments. One of the tombstones is dedicated to Pope Urban VIII, whose sculpture is presented with a raised right hand up. The master created the second tomb for Pope Alexander VII. His sculptural image prays, surrounded by allegorical statues of young maidens, symbolizing truth, justice, mercy and prudence. The colorful altar of the Transfiguration of Christ makes an indelible impression. It consists of a magnificent panel based on the famous work of Raphael Santi. The painting depicts Jesus ascending, surrounded by his disciples.
Deep in the apse of the temple there is a gigantic vault built for valuable relics. Here you can see a complex sculptural composition. It is a wooden pulpit, above which an antique chair literally floats. According to legend, the Apostle Peter sat on it during his sermon. The throne is surrounded by statues of theologians - teachers of the Latin and Greek churches. The dove of the Holy Spirit is visible above the pulpit, surrounded by angels against a background of clouds and sunbeams.
The relics of Pope Leo I the Great rest in one of the chapels of the cathedral. A relief image made of white marble rises above the shrine. The panel describes the legendary scene of how Pope Leo, coming out to meet the army of the Huns, with only a cross in his hands, sent the barbarians into a stampede. The Chapel of St. Sebastian deserves special attention. Here is a painting framed by marble pilasters. The panel was made according to the sketches of the famous painter Dominikino. The work describes the martyrdom of the Roman legionnaire Sebastian, who was accused of being a Christian.
Confessional (tomb) of St. Peter
The main value of the cathedral is the tomb of the great martyr Peter. In the center of the temple there is an altar with unquenchable lamps. Below it is the tomb of the apostle, to which two semicircular marble staircases lead. They descend to the level of the ancient Constantine Basilica, which previously stood on this site. In 1939 they started here archaeological excavations, initiated by Pope Pius XII. During the research, a necropolis was discovered in which the remains of the body of the Apostle Peter were found. They are now kept in a tomb called the Confessional of St. Peter. The altar is decorated with a canopy made by the sculptor Bernini in 1624. It is installed on four bronze twisted columns, the height of which is 29 meters. At the top of the structure there are sculptures of angels.
Where is it and how to get there
St. Peter's Basilica is located in the square of the same name in the Vatican. It can be reached by metro (Ottaviano station). There is a bus and tram stop a few meters from the square.
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on the map
Andy Hay / flickr.com David Merrett / flickr.com faungg's photos / flickr.com St. Peter's Square - view from the top of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica (Seba Sofariu / flickr.com) Scott Cresswell / flickr.com Diana Robinson / flickr.com Obelisk in the center of the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica (Diana Robinson / flickr.com) Diana Robinson / flickr.com Jeroen van Luin / flickr.com Jiuguang Wang / flickr.com Randi Hausken / flickr.com Maria Eklind / flickr.com Statues above the colonnade in St. Peter's Square, Vatican (Andy Hay / flickr.com) Statues on the roof of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican (Andy Hay / flickr.com) Maria Eklind / flickr.com Akuppa John Wigham / flickr.com Sébastien Bertrand / flickr.com David Merrett / flickr.com Francisco Diez / flickr.com Son of Groucho / flickr.com Randi Hausken / flickr.com Randy OHC / flickr.com Michael Day / flickr.com Son of Groucho / flickr.com Brad Bridgewater / flickr.com David Jones / flickr.com Andy Hay / flickr.com Stizod / flickr.com David Merrett / flickr.com David Merrett / flickr.com Balhadin Bernini (Stizod / flickr.com) Balhadin Bernini (Hec Tate / flickr.com) Michelangelo's Pietà St. Peter's Cathedral. (faungg’s photos / flickr.com) Stefan Karpiniec / flickr.com Son of Groucho / flickr.com
For quite a considerable time, St. Peter's Cathedral exceeded in size all the churches in the world. It is now in fourth place after St. Paul's Cathedral in the UK, Cologne Cathedral in Germany and Notre Dame de lape in Yamoussoukro.
It crowns the burial of the main apostle of Christ - St. Peter, which, according to the latest archaeological data, is real. Famous masters worked on the construction of the cathedral, among whom were: Bramante, after him Raphael, Michelangelo and Bernini.
St. Peter's Basilica is one of the four patriarchal basilicas and, in addition, the ceremonial center of the Vatican.
The size of this world famous structure in the Vatican is amazing. Its height is 189 meters. Length - 211 meters. St. Peter's Cathedral itself can accommodate 60 thousand people within a very large area of 22 thousand square meters.
St. Peter's Cathedral is located on the territory of the oldest circus, built by Caligula and Nero. In this building, instead of which there is now a square and a Catholic church, followers of Christ were executed in public view.
Obelisk in the center of the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica (Diana Robinson / flickr.com)
In 67 AD, the execution of Peter, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, as described in the Bible, took place here. He asked to be executed not like Christ, but to be crucified on a cross with his head down to the ground.
Peter's crucifixion took place not far from the obelisk, located in the square in front of the church that now stands. This is where he was buried. Later, believers began to visit this place to worship St. Peter.
The first building, a basilica, was built in honor of the famous apostle here in 326 thanks to Constantine, who ruled at that time. The altar of the basilica is still located directly above the burial of the apostle.
The second cathedral was built in 800 for the coronation of Charles as Emperor of the West. Several centuries later, Nicholas V ordered in 1452 the reconstruction and expansion of the aged and dilapidated basilica.
Construction of the world's greatest temple
Dramatic changes took place under Julius II at the beginning of the 16th century. He entrusted the construction of a huge church to Donato Bramante, the first of the temple's architects. Initially, according to Bramante's plan, the church was planned to be built in the shape of a Greek cross.
Dome from inside St. Peter's Basilica (Francisco Diez / flickr.com)
Bramante was commissioned to build the Cathedral of St. Peter of such a size that it would surpass all existing pagan and other temples at that time. And this was realized - the new Peter's Cathedral towered above other churches in Europe and the whole world. It outperformed other similar structures in the world until 1990. But Bramante did not finish the cathedral in Rome; the architect worked on it for 8 years and then died.
Subsequent construction was under the direction of the famous Italian artist and great master - Raphael Santi. He departed from Bramante's originally conceived project and planned to build a temple in the form of a Latin cross, this form was traditional. Perruzzi, who built the temple after him, again returned to Bramante's original plan in 1532. Sangallo, a student of Bramante, also contributed to the architecture of the cathedral.
The work of Michelangelo and other famous masters on the temple
Another famous master who worked on the construction of the temple in Rome is Michelangelo Buanorotti. He supervised the construction for 18 years. Worked on the outer and inner domes of the Italian church.
Dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican (Maria Eklind / flickr.com)
His goal was to create a dome similar to that of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. And Michelangelo achieved it, although if you look at the appearance of the cathedral in Rome, it seems that the dome is slightly different from the dome of the Florentine temple. The columns of the Roman temple are more powerful and massive, and an altar was installed right under the dome.
He failed to finish his work; Michelangelo managed to make the base for the dome. When he died, two architects, Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana, continued to implement Michelangelo's ideas.
In 1590 they completed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Which turned out to be quite elongated, its height is about 136 meters. The idea with the Latin cross came true at the beginning of the 17th century. Paul V ordered another part to be added to the temple so that the eastern half of the cross would become longer. They also erected a strict facade of the temple, although with it the feeling of the height of the dome was slightly lost.
Another master, Giovanni Bernini, worked on creating the square in front of the cathedral in the second half of the 17th century. The obelisk that stands on the square was brought by the Roman Emperor Caligula from Egypt back in the 1st century AD. It was installed in 1586.
Balhadin Bernini (Stizod / flickr.com)
Bernini also worked on the interior of the cathedral, making it very harmonious given the impressive size of the temple. Thanks to this architect, St. Peter's Basilica contains many elements symbolizing the Christian faith: statues, altars and tombs.
His most outstanding work is a balhadin with twisted graceful columns. It has a height of about 29 meters, under its shadow is the famous tomb of St. Peter and the throne of the ruler and pope of the Vatican. Bernini worked more than other masters on the temple - for as long as 50 years.
The design of the façade and the construction of the longitudinal chapels were carried out by Carlo Moderno. The construction of three huge naves took place at the beginning of the 17th century. At the same time, the cathedral became what it can be seen today.
Appearance
The appearance of this majestic structure in the Vatican is grandiose and the temple itself impresses with its grandeur. Near one of the entrances leading to St. Peter's Basilica, visitors are greeted by two sculptures - Peter and Paul. In Peter's hands one can see the keys to the Kingdom in Heaven.
View of the square from the top of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica (Seba Sofariu / flickr.com)
The square near the church in Rome has an outline similar to the well of a castle, just for the key, which is very symbolic. The ellipse, as part of a vast area in the middle of which the obelisk is located, has the largest diameter - 240 meters.
The square is framed by a magnificent colonnade - the creation of Bernini. It is crowned with 140 sculptures of various characters from the Bible and saints.
The Vatican Cathedral has five doors. The fifth is called Holy, and is opened in certain time. This door is sealed with concrete mortar and before Christmas, once every 25 years for Catholics, the concrete is broken and you can enter it.
Dome of St. Peter's Basilica (Andy Hay / flickr.com)
The dome of the cathedral was designed by the famous artist and at the same time architect Michelangelo; it was the largest in Europe at the time of its construction. Now it is the third largest in the world.
The dome stands on columns, between which there are loggias. On the sides of the large dome there are two more small ones. It was originally planned that there would be four of them.
The façade is also striking in its size: height – 45 meters and width – 115. It is crowned with statues of Christ and his disciples, as well as John the Baptist. The height of each sculpture is 5 meters, there are thirteen in total. In addition, on the facade there is a clock surrounded by angels, the author of which is Giuseppe Valdier.
Behind the facade there is a portico - one of the best works Carlo Moderno. Its vaults are decorated with gilded moldings. Also along the edges there are statues of emperors on horseback - Charlemagne and Constantine.
View from inside St. Peter's Basilica
The inside of the Vatican Temple is richly decorated. Its interior space is made in the shape of a Latin cross. There is a huge amount of stucco in the Baroque style popular at that time, mosaics and various sculptures abound.
Interior of St. Peter's Basilica (Michael Day / flickr.com)
Entering the temple, immediately on the right you can see Michelangelo’s Pieta, created by him at the age of 25. It is located behind thick glass in the first chapel. And it’s called “Lamentation of Christ.” The Mother of God holds her crucified son in her arms.
This is the only work that has the signature of its creator. The height of the vault is amazing - it reaches 46 meters.
One more thing famous work art that is here " Sistine Chapel“, this is a huge fresco by Michelangelo; it will take a very long time to walk through it. She depicts scenes from the Bible.
Michelangelo's famous dome is decorated from the inside with images and symbols of the 4 apostles: Mark and the lion, Matthew and the angel, Luke and the ox, John and the eagle. On the walls there is a gilded phrase written on Latin. Under the dome of the structure you can see the main altar, under which St. Peter is buried.
Interior of St. Peter's Basilica (Randy OHC / flickr.com)
Above is Bernini's balhadin with twisted columns. There are 4 columns in total, and the height of the entire structure is 29 meters. It is crowned with sculptures of angels. The altar of St. Peter's Basilica differs from others in that it faces west, and not like the altars of other churches in the east.
There was also a crypt made here; you can go down a rather gloomy staircase and see the remains of the saints. The main attraction is the statue of St. Peter, carved from marble. Many visitors to the temple consider it important to touch this sculpture, which is also considered holy.
The numerous chapels of the Vatican Cathedral contain statues, tombstones and tombs of saints and rulers of Rome. Relics important to the Vatican are kept here, including the famous spear with which Christ was killed.
Interesting facts about St. Peter's Basilica
- Three architects died during the creation of the cathedral - Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo.
- On the floor of the temple you can see marks that marked the boundaries of all previous basilicas built here. Thus, it is possible to trace how the temple increased its area over many centuries.
- In St. Peter's Basilica there is a door called the Holy Door. It is opened every quarter of a century. From this tradition the word jubilee arose, from the name of the goat’s horn “vobel”, which is blown once every 25 years.
- The temple has a floor made entirely of tombstones. This part of the temple is especially popular among visitors.
St. Peter's Basilica is not only the greatest church in the Vatican, but also a work of art to which people contributed famous artists and architects.
It is called the “heart of the Vatican” and the “White Pearl”. Today the Cathedral is the main residence of the Pope, one of the main Catholic churches peace. The size of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is simply amazing - a huge white dome under the blue sky of Rome...
History of construction, architectural style, photo
On the spot where the Basilica di San Pietro stands today, During the times of ancient Rome there was the Circus of Nero- a place of cruel and bloody fun. The powerful emperor thirsted for spectacle. Fierce gladiator fights took place in the circus arena, and during the persecution of Christians, sometimes the emperor pitted one of them against the gladiator.
Such battles did not last long, and Christians died a martyr’s death, torn to pieces by the gladiator’s sword or the claws of animals... The Apostle Peter was once brought to one of these battles.. Nero ordered him to be crucified after the competition, but Peter asked for one thing - not to compare his execution with Christ’s. Nero agreed, but fulfilled this request in a unique way - Peter was still crucified, but upside down.
There was no information about the burial place for a long time, until one day in the documents of one lawyer in 160 they found a mention of a monument over the grave of Peter. Peter was buried here, in the “circus” cemetery, where nameless victims of gladiatorial fights were buried.
The persecution of Christians stopped only after almost a century and a half, under Emperor Constantine. The emperor issued a decree to build a basilica at the burial site of Peter in honor of the first Christians who suffered for their faith, and to name it after the apostle. The first altar of the basilica was erected in 313, right at the burial site of Peter. After completion (in 326), the Basilica di San Pietro became a place of pilgrimage for all Christians who came here to honor the memory of the martyrs.
Until the year 800, the coronation of all newly elected pontiffs took place here. until the basilica was plundered in 846 after a Saracen raid. Rumors reached the Saracens that in any of the temples of Rome you could make a lot of money. valuable items, so almost all the temples were plundered.
After the sack, the Basilica of Petra went through several reconstructions., but still by the 15th century its appearance was already very deplorable. Therefore, Pope Nicholas ordered the basilica to be significantly expanded and strengthened, which began in 1452. However, due to the death of the pontiff, work was suspended.
Pope Julius II approached the issue more globally: he ordered the demolition of the basilica and in its place to build a large cathedral, which would be the most majestic of all known at that time.
Almost all the famous architects of that time were involved in the design of the Basilica di San Pietro. Donato Bramante's project was approved, and work began in 1506. Since after the death of Bramante, Raphael Santi began to supervise the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the shape and plan of the building changed slightly: instead of a Greek cross with equal sides, he returned to the traditional Latin forms - with a fourth elongated side.
Architects who worked on the project after Raphael strove for different forms of the temple - sometimes a basilica, sometimes a centric structure. The different interpretations of forms continued until Michelangelo Buonarotti got down to business (1546).
He strengthened the foundation of the building, making it very strong, and made the central dome idea the main theme. Along the edges, Michelangelo erected a multi-columned portico and the base of the central dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, but Giacomo della Porta completed its construction.
By the way, Michelangelo refused to work on the project of the Patriarchal Basilica for a very long time, and claimed that he was an artist, not an architect, but it was with the participation of Buonarotti that the work on the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome moved forward much further than with all his predecessors. The walls and roof were erected almost from scratch and work began on the dome.
At the beginning of the 17th century the central part was enlarged, thus preserving the idea of the Latin cross. The architect Karl Moderna added an extension to the basilica and the façade on the western side. Unfortunately, after the latest additions, the dome is clearly visible only from one side - from Via Della Concigliazione.
In order for everyone to be able to attend ceremonial events or services, a large area was required.
This idea was brilliantly implemented by Giovanni Bernini, who designed the main square in the Vatican in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, as well as the famous rounded colonnade that frames the square. An obelisk was erected on the square in 1562, brought to Rome from Egypt by the Roman Emperor Caligula in the 1st century.
The completion of construction dates back to November 1626, when Pope Urban VIII officially opened the Cathedral and began the service.
On the pages of our website you will learn about another attraction of Rome -! What are ancient baths famous for and why do they attract tourists so much?
Description of the attraction
According to the architects, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is a cross, which is crowned by a huge dome; its height is 138 meters, and it is considered the largest dome in the world. In Rome it was not allowed to build churches higher than St. Peter's Basilica. Its height reached 136 meters, and its width was 211.5 meters. Until 1990, the Cathedral held the title of the tallest temple complex in the world, until the basilica was built in Yamoussoukro (Côte d'Ivoire).
Inside the dome is decorated with figures of four evangelists with animals. that surrounded the throne of God - Mark and the lion, John and the eagle, Luke and the ox. And only Matthew is depicted with an angel. Along the inner circle of the dome there is an inscription in Latin: “You are Peter, and on this stone I will build my Church” (Gospel of Matthew; 16:18).
There are five entrances to the Basilica di San Pietro: the Gate of Death, the Gate of Philaret, the Gate of the Sacraments, the Gate of Good and Evil and the Holy Gate. Through the Gate of Death, the Vatican sees off the deceased pontiffs on their final journey.
The Holy Gates are opened only in the Jubilee (Holy) Year, which happens once every 25 years. In the year of the anniversary, around Christmas, the Pope breaks the concrete masonry at the door where the cross and the box with the key to the doors of the Cathedral are embedded. These gates are also called the Gates of Indulgence: if you go through them during the Jubilee Year, your sins are written off and the person becomes sinless.
In front of the central entrance to the Cathedral in Rome there are sculptural figures of the holy apostles Peter and Paul.
The interior decoration of the temple, which Bernini also worked on, amazes with its richness and elegance of decoration.
To the right of the main aisle there is a sculpture of Peter (13th century), which is considered miraculous among parishioners, and everyone tries to touch it at least for a moment. Another legendary relic is kept in the Cathedral - the tip of the spear of the centurion Longinus.
To the right of the central nave is sculptural composition “Pieta” (“Lamentation of Christ”) by Michelangelo. The central nave is flanked by two more naves, separated from the main one by semicircular arches.
Another Bernini masterpiece is the canopy (cevorium), a decorative canopy on pillars– located directly under the dome of the Cathedral. The canopy is a very impressive bronze structure, resting on four pillars with angels. Bronze for decoration was taken from the Pantheon, for which the bronze parts of the portico were dismantled.
The altar stands in the same place as before, only reconstructed and strengthened. There is a special “window” in the floor through which parishioners can see the tomb of St. Peter.
The Vatican Grottoes are located on the lower level of the temple., tombs of some Popes, ancient confessionals, mosaics preserved from the 15th century, as well as the place of Peter’s confession - a chapel decorated with marble.
Opening hours, ticket prices
Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome daily, from 9 to 19 hours(from October to March - from 9 to 18 hours). The exception is Wednesday morning - every Wednesday morning the Cathedral is closed due to papal receptions taking place there.