Basilica Papale di San Petro in Vaticano
St. Peter was one of the 12 apostles and the first ever pope martyred under Emperor Nero's reign. Then, Emperor Constantine became the first Christian Emperor of Rome. It was his decision to erect a basilica on Vatican Hill at the supposed location of St. Peter's tomb. Construction start in 1506 and ended in 1626.
Can you believe that the site of St. Peter's Basilica was originally the Circus of Nero and a cemetery?
This was during the reign of Emperor Nero around 64 AD.
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is the ultimate symbol of Rome. World's largest church. The center of Christianity. It is actually situated outside the walls of the Vatican City whereby the public are welcome into the church for free.
There are 2 levels below this basilica. The first level is the Vatican Grottoes, a large underground graveyard of 91 popes. The second level is the Vatican Necropolis and houses St Peter's tomb.
St. Peter was one of the 12 apostles and the first ever pope martyred under Emperor Nero's reign. Then, Emperor Constantine became the first Christian Emperor of Rome. It was his decision to erect a basilica on Vatican Hill at the supposed location of St. Peter's tomb. Construction start in 1506 and ended in 1626.
Can you believe that the site of St. Peter's Basilica was originally the Circus of Nero and a cemetery?
This was during the reign of Emperor Nero around 64 AD.
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is the ultimate symbol of Rome. World's largest church. The center of Christianity. It is actually situated outside the walls of the Vatican City whereby the public are welcome into the church for free.
There are 2 levels below this basilica. The first level is the Vatican Grottoes, a large underground graveyard of 91 popes. The second level is the Vatican Necropolis and houses St Peter's tomb.
Porta Sancta
Holy Door
These doors are only open during a Holy Year (Jubilee) which occurs every 25 years. The last one was in 2000.
Piazza San Pietro
St. Peter's Square. The 40 metre high Egyptian obelisk was brought to Rome in 37 BC.
St. Peter's Square. The 40 metre high Egyptian obelisk was brought to Rome in 37 BC.
The Apostolic Palace
Official residence of the reigning pope
Michaelangelo's Pieta is shielded by bullet proof glass.
Tomb of Pope John Paul II
Bronze statue of St. Peter, created in 1300. It is a tradition for pilgrims to either kiss or touch his feet when they visit the Basilica.
Confessional booths with multilingual priests inside ready to listen to you.
Bernini's Baldacchino of St' Peter's
Situated directly under the Dome, this 4-poster solid bronze canopy is 96 feet tall. Completed in 1634. The canopy stands over the papal altar which only the Pope may serve. The ancient tomb of St. Peter lies directly below the altar.
St. Peter's Tomb
Attribution: Holger Weinandt (Wiki Commons)
Situated directly under the Dome, this 4-poster solid bronze canopy is 96 feet tall. Completed in 1634. The canopy stands over the papal altar which only the Pope may serve. The ancient tomb of St. Peter lies directly below the altar.
Attribution: Holger Weinandt (Wiki Commons)
The Michelangelo Dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
It is 448 feet from the floor of the basilica. Embellished with mosaic and stucco ornaments. Latin inscription: "To the glory of St. Peter, Pope Sixtus V in the year 1590, the fifth of his pontificate".
Dove of the Holy Spirit built in 1660 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
A peep into the underground of the basilica
Tomb of Pope Alexander VII
None of the paintings in this basilica are actually paintings! They are all tiny pieces of tiles that makes up a giant mosaic painting.
The Swiss Guard, world's smallest army, was formed in 1506 to protect the Pope, the Vatican and the Basilica.
Lunch
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