CHill on a Mission: St. Peter's Basilica

As you may have known, or read in my previous blog about Constantine, he was the first Christian emperor of Rome. He ordered that a basilica be built at the top of Vatican Hill. The site was symbolic because it was where St. Peter was buried in 64. There was already a small shrine at the site, but it was replaced with a church and was completed around 349.

In the middle of the 15th century, the building was falling apart, and Pope Nicolas V ordered that the church be enlarged and restored. After he died, work stopped. In 1506 Pope Julius II began the work again and laid the cornerstone of what would become the largest church in the world.

In 1547, Michaelangelo designed the dome and altered some of the original plans. The basilica was dedicated in 1626. The nave is 715 feet long. The dome is the world's largest, measuring almost 138 feet in diameter and 452 feet high.

The interior, which has a total of 45 altars also has works by some of the most famous artists in the world; Pieta by Michaelangelo, The papal altar and the throne of St. Peter by Bernini, and many others.

There is a platform in the dome that you can go to, but we didn't make it. I bet the pictures would have been sweet.

Near the entrance, is the Swiss Guard. They were started in 1506 by Pope Julius II. All of the, guards must be Swiss, catholic, and take an oath of loyalty. This oath is taken on May 26th, on the anniversary of the attack on Rome in 1527 when the Swiss guards protected Pope Clement VII on his escape to Castel Sant'Angelo. 147 guards were killed in this affair.

Enjoy the last of the Rome blogs, and keep checking back.

St. Peter's Basilica as we drove to the Vatican museum

Had to wear pants to go inside

Jubilee door, only opened every 25 years. It is concrete behind the door to keep away any accidental opening. Due to open next in 2025.

Another shot of the door

Close ups of the door panels

See how St. Peter is crucified upside down?

Walking inside

artwork

Dome

Pieta, Only piece ever signed by Michaelangelo. It is locked up in a glass room now because some yayhoo took a hammer to it.

More art

Your name is Peter, on this rock I will build my church.

They show the distance from the altar of the other largest churches in the world.

Floor

One of the altars

Throne of St. Peter. If you rub his foot, your wish is supposed to come true.

Altar of the confession, under which lies St. Peter's tomb.

Those letters are 6 feet tall

So is Luke's pen

Dome

St. Peter's tomb

Altar of the transfiguration

Seal of John Paul II

Gold thing

More art

Pope John XXIII or someone like that. Waiting for sainthood. His body is on display in the basilica. I think it is weird to want to see and take pics of dead dudes, but mom said he was important. She took the pic, I posted it.