Saint Peter's Basilica

An enormous structure in the shape of a Latin cross, with an impressive dome in the centre, three naves covered by great round arches, make the Basilica a magnificent space.

Saint Peter's Basilica: interior description

Once through the entrance door of the Basilica, the vastness of the architecture is not immediately apparent, also due to a careful use of proportion and the rich marble decorations added to the wall structure. Not everyone knows that much of the marble used was taken from the Colosseum. 

The central nave houses the statue of the patron saint of Rome, blessing thousands of believers who bow to kiss his now-worn right foot.

What to see in the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican: between art and secrets

Saint Peter's bronze canopy

The immense dome of the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, a masterpiece by Michelangelo, dominates the Confession which houses the Tomb of Saint Peter and the Papal Altar, towered over by the famous bronze Baldachin, an early work by Bernini, executed between 1624 and 1632. By order of Pope Urban VIII Barberini, some of the bronze elements decorating the ceiling of the Pantheon’s pronaos were used for its casting, hence the famous saying Quod non fecerunt barbari fecerunt Barberini (what the barbarinas did not do, the Barberinis did).

Michelangelo's La Pietà in Saint Peter's Basilica

The Basilica houses some of the most important masterpieces in art history, starting from the statue of the Pietà, located in the right-side nave, executed by Michelangelo in his early twenties. Today, the work is protected by a thick crystal because about 50 years ago, on 21 May 1972, a man entered the Basilica and hammered the face of the Madonna, which has now been restored.

The Door of Death in Saint Peter's Basilica

Inaugurated in 1964, the Door of Death was executed by Giacomo Manzoni, also known as Manzù, who took almost 20 years to realize a masterpiece merging the lay spirit with the religiosity of its scenes, depicted with humane simplicity. This impressive work of more than 20,000 pounds, seven and a half meters high and 4 meters wide, represents the threshold between life and death, and is opened for the passage of coffins of popes during funeral ceremonies.
 

Curiosities about Saint Peter's Basilica

Among the most fascinating curiosities are surely its optical illusions, first and foremost those of the square's colonnade. The 284 columns were positioned by Bernini in order to generate perspective effects. If you move within them, columns seem to get closer and far apart; while if you stand in the centre, they all disappear behind one column. On the other hand, if you look towards the façade, columns appear of different colours, as another perspective effect is generated by the way light beats on the convex columns.

Another striking effect occurs if observed from Via Piccolomini: as you get closer to the dome, it seems small and smaller, thus deceiving those watching it from a distance.