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A Walk Through Rome
Vatican Overview
St. Peter's
The Vatican Museums
Cruise Port Civitavecchia
The Quest For The Great Lost Roman Dessert
Florence
Pisa - Field of Miracles
Venice
Livorno
CRUISING TO ROME:


VISITING ST. PETER'S


page two


Michelangelo's Pieta, St Peter's Basilica
Above: Michelangelo's Pieta near the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica. 

Interior St Peter's Basilica
St Peter's Basilica interior
Inside, St. Peter's is magnificent.  First, there is the scale.  The building soars upward and towers over you.  It is a vast space, which overwhelms.

Then, there is the decoration.  Works by Michelangelo, Bernini and other first rate artists.  Sculptures, mosaics, gilding, marble and architectural features.

It is opulent but it is an opulence born of spirituality.  The artists were inspired by their spirituality to create and the beauty of their work transcends formal dogma.  Thus, the interior can be appreciated by all.   
The interior of the building follows the outline of a Latin cross.  Bramante had originally envisioned it to be in the shape of a Greek cross but Michelangelo decided on the more elongated form.

The nave leading to the center has a barrel-shaped ceiling (left).  Leading off of it are a series of chapels.   
St Peter's Basilica interior
Papal alter, St Peter's Basilica

Atop the center of the church is the great dome.  It rises some 450 feet from the floor of the Basilica to the top of the cross that crowns it.   

Directly under the dome is the Papal Alter, where only the Pope can celebrate Holy Mass (left).  The 95 foot high canopy was designed by Bernini.


Underneath the alter is the tomb of St. Peter.
Statue of St Peter, St Peter's Basilica
Above: Statue of St. Peter by Arnolfo di Cambio.
Statue of St. Teresa, St. Peter's Basilica
Monument to Pope Leo XI, St Peter's Basilica
Above: Pope Leo XI by Alessandro Algardi.

Left: St. Teresa by Filippo Della Valle
Click here for page one of this article
Click here for our overview of the Vatican
Click here for our page on the Vatican Museums
Click here for our article A Walk through Rome
For more on cruising to Italy:

Click here for our photo article on Pisa
Click here for our article on Florence, Italy
Click here for our section on Venice
Cruise destinations - Rome, Italy - - Visiting St. Peter's - - page two
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