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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 façade 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
façade 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. |