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It
is the greatest church in the world and is dominated by the
imposing Michelangelo's dome. It was built in 324 A.D. by
Constantine. The works which give the present shape to the
basilica began in 1506 thanks to the Bramante's plan. Placed in
the Vatican State (that is an independent State) it dominates
St.Peter's Square which is a Bernini's masterpiece. This
basilica is the spiritual centre of the Christendom and for its
realization many great artists like Bramante, Raffaello, G. from
Sangallo, Peruzzi, A. from Sangallo masterly worked. In 1547
Michelangelo joined those artists realizing the apse part and
the dome which represents the greatest masonry work never built.
Later on, Maderno erected the basilica's faade and, by order of
the Pope, changed the Greek cross plan of the church into the
current Latin cross. Preceded by an enormous perron, the
basilica's faade is characterized by emergent columns between
which some windows take place. The largest window, that is the
central one, is the blessings loggia. The atrium, realized by
Maderno, is decorated with stuccoes and mosaics: among these,
Giotto's mosaic "La Navicella" is particularly appealing. Five
bronze doors introduce to the basilica; one of these, that is to
say " The Saint Door", is open only on the jubilees occasion.
The church is imposing and and grandiose: in its middle, under
the luminous dome, adorned by mosaics, over the papal altar, you
can admire the Bernini's bronze canopy. On its right you can see
St. Peter's bronze statue, sculptured by A. di Cambio, having
its right foot warn out by the faithful's kisses. In the right
aisle there is "La Pietà", the famous Michelangelo's marble
complex. In the Apse you can admire the splendid "St. Peter's
Chair", a bronze work by Bernini. If you want, you can visit the
basilica's dome from where you can enjoy an exceptional view of
Rome. Copyright by Wikipedia |
