Decoration of the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican - Vatican Square, St. Peter's Basilica, Papal Gardens. Baldasare Peruzzi and Antonio da Sangallo

St. Peter's Square was built in 1656-1667. architect Bernini; its oval part is framed by colonnades arranged in semicircles in four rows of two hundred and eighty-four columns and eighty-eight travertine supports. In the center is an Egyptian obelisk that previously stood at Nero's hippodrome, where the Apostle Peter suffered martyrdom. By order of Pope Sixtus V in 1586, the pillar weighing 322 tons was moved to St. Peter's Square.

There are two fountains on the square. One is the work of Alberto da Piacenza in an early version, it was rebuilt in 1516 by Carlo Maderna, the second fountain was created by Bernini based on the model of the first, so as not to disturb the harmony of the square, with the only change: the bowl of the fountain was expanded and lowered.

The dominant feature of the square is St. Peter's Cathedral. It is the largest Christian cathedral and the center of the Roman Catholic Church. The cathedral's capacity is about 60 thousand people. The height of the dome is 136 meters, the length of the central nave is 211 meters. On the facade of the cathedral there are statues of Christ, John the Baptist, and 11 Apostles.

The square of St. Peter's Basilica is marked in such a way that the border of the Vatican State is marked beyond the outer side of the colonnade.

St. Peter's Square in Rome lies in front of one of the most grandiose temples in the world - St. Peter's Basilica. Before the renovations carried out under Mussolini, St. Peter's Square literally stunned everyone who visited it. The Romans, emerging from the narrow streets, where until the last moment the dome of the cathedral was not visible, suddenly found themselves in a huge open space, surrounded on two sides by columns, and on the third by a majestic cathedral façade.

St. Peter's Square is built in the shape of an oval, the dimensions of which are 340 meters in length and up to 240 meters in width. The resulting hemisphere is a symbol of faith, which accepts any person who decides to visit the Church of St. Peter. A wide staircase leads to the basilica; the square is framed on both sides by a colonnade.

Vatican - Bernini's Colonnade

The colonnade in St. Peter's Square was built by the architect Giovanni Bernini in 1656-1667. It consists of 284 Doric columns, distributed in four rows, above which are installed 162 eight-meter sculptures of Catholic saints.

The colonnade has an interesting feature. In the center of the square, between the fountains and the obelisk, there are two points marked with white marble. If you stand on one of them, four columns from different rows will merge and only the first columns will be visible and it will seem to you that the colonnade consists of one row of columns. And if you take a step to the side, all the other columns will be visible behind the first one.

Bernini's colonnade was reproduced several times in other countries, so we can see one of the similar structures on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg - this is the colonnade of the Kazan Cathedral, built at the beginning of the 19th century by the Russian architect Andrei Voronikhin.

Obelisk in St. Peter's Square

The obelisk in the center of the square dates back to the 1st century BC, it was brought from Egypt, from the environs of modern Cairo - Heliopolis for Nero's circus, where it remained for a long time. According to legend, the ashes of Julius Caesar were kept in the ball crowning the monument.

On September 10, 1586, by order of Pope Sixtus V, the obelisk was dragged to the square using a complex device built by the engineer Domenic Fontana. The vehicle performed these difficult maneuvers with the participation of 140 horses. Domenico Fontana warned that any sound could collapse the structure and therefore any word spoken during work was punishable by execution.

At the most crucial moment, the ropes began to weaken and the huge colossus had to fall on its side. But at this time the Genoese sailor shouted: “Water on the ropes!” It was the captain of the ship named Domenico Bresca and he knew very well that when the ropes get wet, they tighten.

The 25.5 meter high obelisk was rescued and successfully installed, and Captain Bresque was summoned to the Pope. According to legend, he praised the captain and asked how he could thank him. The captain's request was modest - he asked permission to bring palm branches to the Vatican on Palm Sunday, preceding Easter.

The height of the obelisk, together with the pedestal and cross on top, is 41 meters.

However, the ashes of Julius Caesar were never discovered during these works. The ball was placed in the Vatican Museums, and a cross was installed on the obelisk.

Next to the obelisk there are two 17th-century fountains by Maderna and Bernini.

St. Peter's Square today

On Sundays and holidays, everyone who wants to hear the Pope's sermon gathers here. The square is filled with chairs and those who come listen to the speech of the head of the Catholic Church in 20 languages. At exactly noon, the Pope delivers his speech from the balcony above the main entrance to the basilica or from the windows of his office, which are located on the left edge on the top floor of the building located behind the colonnade on the right.

There is one more opportunity to see dad. He holds a general audience on Wednesday at 10 a.m. True, if you don’t take a seat in advance, you won’t see anything except backs and cameras.

The rest of the time, St. Peter's Square is full of tourists who come to the museum. At the same time, we must not forget that no frivolity in clothing is allowed here. If you are not dressed appropriately, it is better to immediately buy a T-shirt with sleeves or some kind of cape-scarf at the souvenir kiosk along the way.

The cathedral has a very long and complicated history - it’s even difficult to name the year of its construction, since it was rebuilt many times, and each master had his own ideas about what this Catholic shrine should look like. The first basilica appeared here in 326 during the reign of Emperor Constantine, who made Rome Christian. The fact is that near the place where the temple is located, there was once a circus of Nero. In 67 AD, the Apostle Peter died on the cross on it, and the first St. Peter's Basilica was erected over his grave.

Painting by Caravaggio “The Crucifixion of the Apostle Peter”

By 800 the church was renovated for the coronation of Emperor Charlemagne, but already in 846 it survived a Saracen attack and was plundered. After this, it was restored, but in the middle of the 15th century the need for major reconstruction again arose. Pope Nicholas V began rebuilding the building and significantly expanded it. Dramatic changes were made under Julius II.

On behalf of the pontiff, the famous Renaissance architect Donato Bramante took on the design of the new temple in 1506. He planned to build a basilica in the form of a Greek cross with a dome in the center. But Bramante did not have time to finish the work - he was replaced by another famous master, Raphael Santi, who proposed a design for the cathedral in the form of an elongated Latin cross. After Raphael's death in 1520, the architects Baldassare Peruzzi and Antonio de Sangallo moved even further from the original plan, completely abandoning the idea of ​​a dome.

Rafael Santi. At the court of the Pope he received the position of “artist of the Apostolic See”

However, after them, construction management was entrusted to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who returned to the original design of the cathedral in the form of a Greek cross. True, the sculptor was already 72 years old at that time, and he accepted this task without enthusiasm, claiming that he was not strong in architecture. And yet, under the leadership of the great master, the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral advanced significantly: he erected load-bearing structures, the main building of the temple and the frame of the central dome.

After Buonarroti's death in 1564, the work was continued by the architect Giacomo della Porta. However, even then the temple had not yet acquired a completed appearance - this happened only at the beginning of the 17th century, when Pope Paul V decided to add a three-nave building to it. Thus, after long reconstructions, the cathedral in honor of the holy apostle returned to the shape of the Latin cross.

Somewhat later, in the middle of the 17th century, thanks to the efforts of the Italian master Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, a huge St. Peter's Square appeared, which forms one with the temple. architectural ensemble. It is made in the form of a circle with a high obelisk in the center - according to legend, Emperor Caligula himself brought it here.

Interesting fact: During the years of construction of the cathedral, several great Italian architects and sculptors, who consistently worked on its project, died. Each of them was involved in the temple until his death.

How to get to St. Peter's Basilica

The location of the main Catholic church is known to everyone - it is located in the center of the Vatican.

The exact address: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Holy See (Vatican City State)

How to get there from Termini railway station:

    Option 1

    Bus: At the station you need to take bus number 40 and go to the Traspontina/Conciliazione stop. 21 minutes travel time, 7 stops.

    On foot: 450 meters. Continue south along Via della Traspontina towards Via della Conciliazione and then turn right into Via della Conciliazione. Continue along Piazza Papa Pio XII. Continue along Largo degli Alicorni. The destination is in front of you.

    Option 2

    Metro: Get off at Battistini metro station and go to Otaviano station. 17 minutes travel time, 6 stops.

    On foot: 850 meters. Continue south along Via Ottaviano towards Via degli Scipioni and then Via di Porta Angelica. Via di Porta Angelica turns gently to the left and becomes Largo del Colonnato. Then continue along Piazza Papa Pio XII and then along Largo degli Alicorni. The destination is in front of you.

Important: For those traveling by car, the easiest way is to leave the car away from historical center. and the area near it is included in the ZTL zone - this means that the entrance is not always open, and parking will be paid. However, other parking lots in Rome are free only for a few hours or at night.

St. Peter's Cathedral on the map

What to see

Facade

Currently, the temple is decorated with a luxurious Baroque facade - with a colonnade, an elegant attic and two hours of work by Giuseppe Valadier. It was created in the 17th century by the Italian-Swiss master Carlo Maderna, who tried not to break the traditions established by Bramante.

On both sides of the façade, which is 118 meters long, there are statues of Saints Peter and Paul. The rest of the apostles, as well as John the Baptist, can be seen at the very top of the basilica, along the attic. There are 13 sculptures here, led by the central figure of Jesus Christ.

Five doors lead inside the cathedral:

  • Filaret's main portal,
  • Holy portal
  • Portal of death
  • Portal of good and evil,
  • Portal of the seven sacraments.

Of these, the most ancient is the central entrance, the rest were created in the 20th century.

Interesting fact: The holy portal is opened only once every quarter of a century. Moreover, on the side of the temple in its place there is a blank brick wall, which is dismantled every 25 years on the eve of Christmas. After the Pope passes through the resulting opening, the wall is laid again. The Death Portal also rarely opens; it is needed only on the day of the pontiff’s funeral.

Dome

Thanks to the majestic dome, which rises 138 meters above the ground, St. Peter's Basilica is considered the tallest church in the world. This part of it is inextricably linked with the name of Buonarroti, because it was he who began work on it. True, the great sculptor was unable to complete the dome; the finishing was done first by Giacomo da Vignola, and then by Giacomo della Porta, together with the engineer and architect Domenico Fontana. However, they all followed Michelangelo's plan without significant deviations.

In general, the construction of the dome was completed in 1590, and after that a cross was erected on it with the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called and a small piece of the holy cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Interior

Rich interior decoration made St. Peter's Basilica not only the greatest, but also one of the most beautiful basilicas in the world. Sculptures and frescoes, icons, fine gold paintings - all this amazes the imagination with its beauty and grandeur. It is interesting that there is not a single painting in the temple; all images are made of mosaics.

Briefly about the main attractions of the interior:

  • Markings of the dimensions of the most famous temples in the world on the floor of the central nave- they are designed to emphasize the grandeur of the cathedral. Here you can see with your own eyes how much larger this building is than other famous basilicas.

  • Fresco "Navichella" on the theme of Jesus saving the drowning Peter - this work by Giotto di Bondone can be seen immediately above the main entrance. It was created at the beginning of the 14th century and became a model for representatives of the Italian school of icon painting.

  • Statue of the Apostle Peter- it was supposedly created by Arnolfo di Cambio in the 13th century. It is believed that one can ask her to fulfill wishes by touching the saint’s foot with her lips or hand. Pilgrims claim that if a wish is good, it will definitely come true. The statue is located on the right at the very end of the main nave, at the last arch.

  • 17th century statue of Saint Longinus- its creator, sculptor Lorenzo Bernini, worked on this 5-meter sculpture for almost half a century. The sculpture is installed in a niche near one of the columns supporting the dome of the cathedral. In other niches there are sculptures of Saints Helen, Andrew and Veronica.

  • Canopy over the central altar- another unique work by Bernini. The majestic, luxurious ciborium, almost 30 meters high, is supported by four pillars with figures of angels.

  • Marble Pieta by Michelangelo - this sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the body of Christ was created by the master in his youth, when he was only 23 years old. It came to St. Peter's Basilica in the 18th century, and in the 20th century it was enclosed in a glass bulletproof box after an attack by an attacker.

  • Wooden crucifix by Cavallini- a relic from the 13th or early 14th century, over 2 meters high. Carved from walnut wood and covered with several layers of paint, it depicts Jesus Christ at the moment of death. This is the oldest crucifix in the Vatican.

Interesting: the famous “Pieta” is the only work of the master that he signed with his name. According to legend, Michelangelo did this after accidentally overhearing a dispute about the authorship of the sculpture.

Sacristy

Initially, the sacristy was located in the southern part of the temple, and this was the case until the 18th century, when it required large-scale reconstruction. Among the submitted projects, the best was considered to be the idea of ​​Philip Astoria, who proposed not to restore the old sacristy, but to build a new one as a separate building.

However, more than 60 years passed from the idea to its implementation. Construction began only in 1776 under the leadership of the architect Marchionni, who did everything to ensure that the extension seemed one with the architecture of the cathedral. Currently, the sacristy houses the Museum of Treasures, which houses a collection of valuables from the Catholic Church. Excursions are regularly held here for tourists.

One of the exhibition halls of the Treasure Museum. In Italian it is called "Museo del Tesoro della Basilica di San Pietro Vatican"

Tomb of St. Peter

This place is one of the most unusual in the entire Vatican. The fact is that even during the construction of the first St. Peter's Cathedral it was known that the basilica was located on the tomb of the apostle, but no one saw the tomb itself. It was located deep in the dungeon under the altar, where it is risky to carry out excavations so as not to disturb the entire structure of the temple.

However, after Pius XI, who died in 1939, bequeathed to bury himself near the saint’s grave, excavations began in this place. And as a result, archaeologists discovered not only the floor of the very first cathedral, but also a necropolis located underneath it with pagan and Christian burials. Pope Pius XII decided to continue work to find the tomb of the apostle. And it was found, however... it turned out to be empty. Does this mean that the relics of the saint are irretrievably lost? There is no answer to this question, because in a deep niche in one of the walls surrounding the tomb, ancient human bones. But whether they belong to the holy apostle remains a mystery.

How to get into it amazing place? Not easy, but possible. There are excursions here, but they need to be booked at least a month in advance. And, according to reviews, these tours are worth trying to get on them.

Opening hours and ticket prices

Saint Paul's Cathedral

Opening hours:

  • From April 1 to September 30 - from 07:00 to 19:00.

Entry fee: for free.

Tourists are offered an audio guide with lectures in several languages ​​(there is no Russian, but there is English).

Group excursions are possible by prior arrangement, and this type of visit, of course, is paid. You can enter the basilica without a queue - you just need to fill out the reservation form at.

Observation deck on the dome

Working hours:

  • From April 1 to September 30 - from 08:00 to 18:00.

Ticket price:

  • 10 € (~695 rub. ) when ascending to the dome by elevator (320 steps on foot);
  • 8 € (~556 rub. ) when climbing on foot from start to finish (551 steps);
  • 5 € (~348 rub. ) for school age children.

Unfortunately, you cannot buy tickets online - only on the spot.

Tomb of the Holy Apostle

Opening hours:

  • On Saturdays - from 09:00 to 17:00.

Tours are not available on Sundays.

Excursions to the saint’s grave are conducted according to a schedule; they should be booked in advance by sending a written request by email [email protected] . in English or Italian. Ticket price - 13 € ( ~904 rub. ).

Important: To visit the temple there is a dress code - long trousers and skirts, covered shoulders, hats for women, comfortable shoes without heels.

  • The area of ​​the cathedral is 23,000 square meters, and its height, including the dome, is about 138 meters. Traditionally, buildings are not built higher than this shrine in Rome.
  • Michelangelo's last work, found recently in the Vatican archives, was a sketch of one of the columns to support the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
  • A characteristic feature of the main temple in the Vatican is that it faces west, while most Christian churches face east.
  • For a long time there was a belief that the relics of Julius Caesar were kept in a ball at the top of the central obelisk of St. Peter's Square. However, in reality the ball is empty.
  • On the square in front of the temple there are two points from which all the columns, arranged in four rows, are hidden behind each other.
  • Looking through the keyhole of the door of the Villa of the Order of Malta on, you can see 3 states: the residence of the order itself, the Vatican and itself.
Virtual tour from St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on video

St. Peter's Cathedral is one of the most valuable sites on the UNESCO list and is worth seeing even for those with little interest in religion. This is a place of mysteries and secrets 2000 years old, where you can touch the distant past with your hand. A simple description, of course, is not able to convey its amazing atmosphere and the impression it makes on pilgrims and tourists. Definitely, this symbol of Rome should be the first in any excursion program. Moreover, the location of the temple allows you to visit the Vatican Museum with it

Tomb of the Holy Apostle:
Ticket price - 13 € ( ~904 rub. )

Working hours

Saint Paul's Cathedral:
From October 1 to March 31 - from 07:00 to 18:30;
From April 1 to September 30 - from 07:00 to 19:00

Observation deck on the dome:
From October 1 to March 31 - from 08:00 to 17:30;
From April 1 to September 30 - from 08:00 to 18:00

Tomb of the Holy Apostle:
From Monday to Friday - from 09:00 to 18:00;
On Saturdays - from 09:00 to 17:00

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St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is the most famous Roman Catholic Church and one of the holiest places in Christendom. The article describes

  • architectural features of the building and briefly about the history of its creation;
  • the most famous works of great masters decorating the interior;
  • Christian relics kept under the shadow of the temple.

And you will also find out

  • what sad role the construction of the building played in the fate of Catholicism;
  • which of the great architects took part in the work and did not live to see the completion of construction;
  • and what the cathedral actually is.

What exactly is St. Peter's Basilica in Rome?

Please note: the church is a papal basilica (Papale di San Pietro), not the cathedral. Basilica is an honorary title for a temple bestowed by the Pope. Papal means that it obeys only the Pope. But this word has another meaning, which defines an ancient or medieval rectangular building with two longitudinal rows of columns inside (usually a temple).

A cathedral is the name given to the church where the bishop's pulpit or throne (chair) is located, on which he sits during worship. Rome Cathedral - Basilica of Archa of St. John Lateran. The latter functions as the main church for the faithful of Rome.

The papal basilica is called a cathedral, apparently because it houses the throne of St. Peter.

What used to be on the site of the basilica?

Saint Peter, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, a witness to his resurrection and the first bishop of Rome, was martyred in 64 AD. e. and was buried at this place. The tomb of St. Peter became iconic around 160. After recognizing the religious will of Christians, Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of a basilica here. This happened around 320.

It is this tomb that is the center and essence of all the buildings of the Vatican City State.

Who started construction and why?

The pope who first voiced the idea of ​​replacing the old Constantinian Basilica was Nicholas V (1447-55). He commissioned Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72) and Bernardo Rossellino (1409-64) to prepare plans for a new structure for the religious center.

Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) built new churches (including the Sistine Chapel), widened streets, and helped transform Rome into a Renaissance city. But the basilica, where Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800, was not touched.

It was only when his nephew Pope Julius II became pontiff in 1503 that everything began. Julius decided to demolish the old basilica and replace it with a new one, where he would prepare a tomb for himself. A long succession of Popes, architects, designers and masons eventually brought the project to completion in 1626. 123 years have passed!

Which of the greats “had a hand”?

The active pontiffs were:

  • Leo X (1513-1521),
  • Clement VII (1523-1534),
  • Paul III (1534-1549),
  • Sixtus V (1585-1590),
  • Gregory XIV (1590-1),
  • Clement VIII (1592-1605),
  • Paul V (1605-1621) and
  • Urban VIII (1623-1644).
Maderno façade. Author: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT — own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link

Among the most famous architects ( Capomaestro), participating in its construction, were

  • Donato Bramante (1444-1514),
  • Raphael (1483-1520),
  • Giuliano da Sangallo,
  • Baldessare Peruzzi,
  • Antonio da Sangallo the Younger
  • Michelangelo (1475-1564),
  • Giacomo della Porta,
  • Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) with the assistance of Francesco Borromini 1599-1667 and
  • Giovanni Bernini (1598-1680).

Architectural style of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

The long and intermittent progress of its construction illustrates the changing course of art high renaissance:

  • transition from strict antiquity to freer eclectic trends mannerism And,
  • ultimately to .

The artistry and architectural grandeur of the papal basilica should confirm the Vatican's status as the spiritual home of Christianity.

Which Christian church is larger than St. Peter's?

Constructed from travertine stone, the building has

  • height 138 m,
  • 223 meters long and
  • 152 meters wide,
  • with an internal length of approximately 211 meters.
  • The area is 2.3 hectares, which accommodates 60,000 people.

It was the largest Christian church in the world until 1989. Now the church in the capital of the West African state of Cote d'Ivoire, Yamoussoukro, is considered such.

Interior: the most famous masterpieces

St. Peter's Basilica in Rome can be called a repository of the most valuable works of art from the floor to the cross on the dome. Pilgrims entering the basilica are controlled by church officials and Swiss Guards. The inside of the basilica has the shape of a Latin cross. The elongated nave is flanked by wide aisles giving access to several chapels. These include chapels:

  • Reverend Virgin,
  • Clementines,
  • Madonna Columns,
  • Gregorian,
  • several other altars.

In addition, in the center of the basilica is the Chapel of Confession.

The interior of St. Peter's contains a number of priceless treasures in marble and bronze by the greatest sculptors of the Renaissance.
One of them is Pieta (1500) by Michelangelo.

Baroque sculptures such as the ciborium or ceremonial canopy over the high altar and the Cathedra Petri, designed by Bernini. The architect placed it in a gilded bronze composition.

Neoclassical sculptures (such as the marble statue of Pope Pius VI) created the greatest masters Europe, such as the Italian genius Antonio Canova (1757-1822).

It also contains numerous papal tombs, decorated

  • marble statues and reliefs (the tomb of Pope Leo XI (1634-44) by Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654)),
  • as well as mosaics and precious metals.

Exterior of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

NOT the obvious secrets of Bernini's project

Completed in the 16th century, the majestic basilica required an appropriate frame. By decree of the Vatican, Bernini built in 11 years an unsurpassed example of elegance and elegance - St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro).

The smaller trapezoidal Rhett Square, which is adjacent to the elliptical part, brings the Catholic Church closer and more intimate.


Plan of the Cathedral and St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. The entire composition is called the “key of St. Peter” because from a bird’s eye view it appears in this form.

3 in 1 or hello to pilgrims from Egypt

In the center of the ellipse stands an Egyptian obelisk. It is believed that he once graced Nero's circus. He is worshiped as (1) a witness to the execution of St. Peter. It took 140 horses and 900 workers to move it in 1586. The monolith weighing 385 tons was installed using complex system rope winch. There is an unconfirmed legend that the ashes of Julius Caesar are kept in a metal ball at the top of the obelisk.

From the obelisk, rays of travertine diverge along the paving stones, arranged so that the obelisk performs (2) the role of the gnomon(an astrological instrument that determines the direction of the true meridian), and (3) sundial.

Theater stage of the Vatican?

Have you seen hundreds of thousands of silent people standing densely in St. Peter's Square? They flock here for the moment when the Pope raises his hands for the good of the urbi et orbi (city and world). This characteristic gesture with which the Roman Catholic Church presents itself to the world attracts up to 400,000 pilgrims.

The square is the auditorium and the façade of the basilica is the stage. All in accordance with the goal of making St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican teaching aid of the Catholic world. Bernini himself viewed the colonnade as the arms of God embracing the faithful.

The façade is “a church of the poor and for the poor”

In the 17th century, Carlo Maderno decorated the facade with giant Corinthian columns (each 27.5 m in height) and thirteen statues: Christ and the eleven apostles (except Peter) plus John the Baptist.

Behind the columns there are 5 gates or doors through which you can enter the cathedral. The door leaves of the central portal were transferred from the old basilica (work in the mid-15th century). Nearby there are equestrian statues of Charlemagne (Augustino Cornacchini, 18th century) and Emperor Constantine (Bernini, 1670).

There is also another pearl of the exterior - Giotto's famous mosaic from the late 13th century. "Navichella". The extreme doors on the left are the “Gates of Death” - created in 1949-1964. by the great sculptor Giacomo Manzu. Through them the pontiffs embark on their final journey.

A symbol that began to collapse in the 18th century

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica dominates the other three great basilicas of Rome:

  1. Santa Maria Maggiore,
  2. St. Paul and
  3. St. John Lateran.

From the floor to the top of the cross the height is almost 137 meters. Inner diameter - 41.47 meters. This is less than the diameter of the Pantheon dome (43.3 m), but larger than the dome of St. Sophia in Constantinople.


In the 18th century, the dome began to collapse. To give additional rigidity, the vault was tied together with 4 strong chains

Designed largely by Michelangelo and built by his student Giacomo della Porta during the short but active papacy of Sixtus V (1585-1590). The dome is supported by sail vaults. The drum rests on four powerful columns 18 meters thick. It was Michelangelo who increased the size and strength of the supporting structure. At the same time, he retained the centric composition conceived by Bramante.

Direct rivals to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican are

  • the early Renaissance Florence Cathedral, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in 1434;
  • Constantinople's Hagia Sophia, completed in 537;
  • and the dome designed by Christopher Wren for St Paul's Cathedral, completed in 1710.

A specialized group of workers (sampietrini) constantly monitors and cares for the basilica building. Thanks to them, it is always in excellent condition.

“... for the church to take to the streets” or Why are there so many masterpieces in the temple?

Since the ninth century, the Christian Church has been inextricably linked with

  • fine art of architecture,
  • sculpture (reliefs and statues),
  • painting (altar panels, monumental works).

She became the largest customer and patron of the arts in Europe. To understand why the world center of the Roman Church, represented by St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, is so generously endowed with many masterpieces, remember this.

To inspire religious communities with the Christian message the church created

  • decorative arts (stained glass in Gothic cathedrals),
  • tapestry art,
  • a huge assortment of wall paintings (Sistine Chapel),
  • mosaic art and
  • wealth of icon painting.

In fact, from the middle of the 16th century, sculptors and painters received detailed instructions, how to present the features of New Testament history. Moreover, only priests had the right to read the Bible. And for the illiterate and ignorant they drew pictures.

Basilica - two-faced Janus

The main temple of Catholicism has two faces:

  • one is a symbol of the power and greatness of the church;
  • the other is a split, a loss of authority and strength.

To pay the cost of the basilica and its maintenance, a fantastic sum was required - 46 million ducats. A. The huge and aggressive fundraising campaign has sparked protests in Europe. It was she who became an important factor in initiating the Reformation and the birth of Protestantism. What do you think, irony of fate or a natural phenomenon? Write your opinion in the comments, please.

What Christian relics are kept in the cathedral?

The basilica contains, but is not shown to the public, a piece of the Crucifixion of Christ and the Plates of Veronica, as well as the relics of St. Longinus (the legionnaire who pierced the body of Jesus with a spear), and St. Andrew (brother of St. Peter).

In niches set in the four pillars of the dome, there are a number of statues associated with the holy relics of the basilica. These include:

  • St. Helen holding the True Cross (Andrea Bolgi);
  • St. Longinus with a spear piercing the ribs of Jesus on the cross (Bernini, 1639);
  • St. Veronica, on whose scarf the face of Jesus appeared (Francesco Moci) and
  • St. Andrew with the St. Andrew's Cross (Francois Duquesnoy).

Whose graves are in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome?

About 100 tombs are located in St. Peter's Basilica, including the Vatican Grotto below the basilica. They are the resting places of 91 Popes (including John Paul II), Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, and Saint Ignatius of Antioch. In the underground crypt, directly under the dome and main altar, is the tomb of St. Peter himself.

A short video on the topic.

How to get to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

You can get to the place

  • by metro: line A, stop Ottaviano (closer to the museums) or San Pietro (closer to the square);
  • by tram: No. 19, stop San Pietro 200 meters from the cathedral;
  • by bus: No. 23, 32, 81, 590, 982, 11, Risorgimento stop,
  • express routes from Termini station No. 64, 40, 116, stop Terminal Gianicolo.

St. Peter's Basilica in Rome can be visited for free, like any church. It opens at 7 am.

St. Peter's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Pietro; St. Peter's Basilica) is a Catholic cathedral that is the most large structure Vatican and until recently considered the largest Christian church in the world. One of the four patriarchal basilicas of Rome and the ceremonial center of the Roman Catholic Church.

Cathedral and St. Peter's Square:

St. Peter's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano; St. Peter's Basilica) is a Catholic cathedral on the territory of the sovereign state of Vatican City. One of the four patriarchal basilicas of Rome and the ceremonial center of the Roman Catholic Church. Until 1990, the Cathedral of St. Peter's in Rome was the largest Christian cathedral in the world; in 1990 it was surpassed by the cathedral in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the African state of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square:

The size of St. Peter's Basilica is simply amazing. It covers an area of ​​22,067 square meters. m. The height of the cathedral is 189 m, the length without a portico is 186.36 m, and with a portico - 211.5 m. Architectural style: Renaissance and Baroque.

Story

Once upon a time, on the spot where the Cathedral of St. Peter, the gardens of Nero's circus were located (from it, by the way, the obelisk from Heliopolis remained, which to this day stands in St. Peter's Square). In the circus arena during the time of Nero, Christians were martyred. In 67, the Apostle Peter was brought here after the trial. Peter asked that his execution not be compared to Christ’s. Then he was crucified head down. St. Clement, the then bishop of Rome, with the faithful disciples of the apostle, took his body from the cross and buried him in a nearby grotto.

Reconstruction plan for the Circus of Nero:

Reconstruction plan of Nero's Circus, superimposed on the plan of the cathedral. St. Peter's Tomb - St. Peter's grave

The first basilica was built in 324, during the reign of the first Christian emperor Constantine, and the remains of St. Peter, who suffered martyrdom in the circus of Nero in 66. At the second council in 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the West. In the 15th century The basilica, which had existed for eleven centuries, threatened to collapse, and under Nicholas V they began to expand and rebuild it. This issue was radically resolved by Julius II, who ordered the construction of a huge new cathedral on the site of the ancient basilica, which was supposed to outshine both pagan temples, and existed Christian churches, thereby helping to strengthen the papal state and spread the influence of Catholicism.

Almost all the major architects of Italy took turns participating in the design and construction of St. Petra. In 1506, the architect's project was approved Donato Bramante , according to which they began to build a centric structure in the shape of a Greek cross (with equal sides).

After Bramante's death, the construction was led by Raphael, who returned to the traditional form of the Latin cross (with an elongated fourth side), then Baldassare Peruzzi, who settled on a centric structure, and Antonio da Sangallo, who chose the basilica form. Finally, in 1546, the management of the work was entrusted to Michelangelo.

He returned to the idea of ​​a central-domed structure, but his project included the creation of a multi-columned entrance portico on the eastern side (in the most ancient basilicas of Rome, as in ancient temples, the entrance was on the eastern, not the western side). Michelangelo made all the supporting structures more massive and highlighted the main space. He erected the drum of the central dome, but the dome itself was completed after his death (1564) by Giacomo della Porta, who gave it a more elongated outline. Of the four small domes envisaged by Michelangelo's design, the architect Vignola erected only two. To the greatest extent, the architectural forms exactly as they were conceived by Michelangelo have been preserved on the altar, western side.

But the story didn't end there. At the beginning of the 17th century. At the direction of Paul V, the architect Carlo Maderna lengthened the eastern branch of the cross - he added a three-nave basilica part to the centric building, thus returning to the shape of the Latin cross, and built a facade. As a result, the dome turned out to be a hidden façade, lost its dominant meaning and is only perceived from a distance, from Via della Concigliazione.

A square was needed that could accommodate the large number of believers who flocked to the cathedral to receive papal blessings or take part in religious celebrations. Completed this task Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini , who created in 1656-1667. The square in front of the cathedral is one of the most outstanding works of world urban planning practice.

St. Peter's Square. Bernini:

Facade

The height of the facade, built by the architect Carlo Maderna, is 45 m, width - 115 m. The attic of the facade is crowned with huge, 5.65 m high, statues of Christ, John the Baptist and the eleven apostles (except for the Apostle Peter). From the portico, five portals lead to the cathedral.

Carlo Maderna (Maderna; 1556-1629) - Roman architect, student of his uncle, Domenico Fontana. He immortalized his name mainly by completing the construction (in 1605-1613) of St. Peter's Cathedral.

Facade of St. Peter's Basilica. Architect Carlo Maderna:

Statues of the Apostles Peter and Paul:

At Easter 1847, Pope Pius IX decided to replace the statues of the apostles Peter and Paul that stood in front of the cathedral. The old statues were moved to the library of Sixtus IV, and in their place were placed statues made for St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. Author: Venetian sculptor Giuseppe De Fabris, 1838-1840. In the right hand of the apostle - the keys to paradise, on the left is a scroll with the words “ET TIBI DABO CLAVES REGNI CAELORUM” (and I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Matthew 16:19).
The author of the statue of St. Paul is Adamo Tadolini, 1838. In the right hand of the apostle is a sword, his symbol, in the left is a scroll with the words “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me,” Phil. 4:13, in Yiddish.

The doors of the central portal were made in the middle of the 15th century. and come from the old basilica. Opposite this portal, above the entrance to the portico, is a famous mosaic by Giotto from the late 13th century. "Navichella". The reliefs of the leftmost portal - the “Gate of Death” - were created in 1949-1964. by the great sculptor Giacomo Manzu. The image of Pope John XXIII is very expressive.

The Doors of Death are so named because funeral processions usually exited through these doors.

In preparation for the 1950 anniversary, Pope Pius XII announced a competition in 1947 to create three doors leading from the portico to the cathedral. The most outstanding artist among the winners was Giacomo Manzu. The door was made in 1961-64. 10 scenes on the doors express the Christian meaning of death. At the top right is the crucifixion of the Savior, on the left is the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Below are reliefs with a bunch of grapes and a sheaf of ears of grain, which simultaneously serve as door handles. When grapes and wheat die, they turn into wine and bread. During the sacrament of the Eucharist, they are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, that is, into the bread of life and the wine of salvation.

Below on the right are depicted: the death of the first martyr St. Stephen; the death of Pope Gregory VII, defending the Church from the claims of the emperor; death imporvised in space; death of mother at home in front of crying child.

"Gate of Death":

Gate of Death (fragment):

Bottom left (detail): depicts the murder of Abel, the peaceful death of Joseph, the crucifixion of St. Peter and the death of the “good pope” John XXIII.

There are five doors leading into the cathedral. The last door on the right is the Holy (3.65 m x 2.30 m), and it opens only in the Holy, or jubilee year, celebrated every quarter of a century.

Holy Gate:

From inside the cathedral, the Holy Door is walled up with concrete; a bronze cross and a small square box are attached to the concrete, in which the key to the door is stored. Every 25 years, on Christmas Eve (December 25), the concrete is broken before the anniversary year. In accordance with a special ritual, after three kneelings and three blows of the hammer, the Holy Door swings open and the pope, taking the cross in his hands, is the first to enter the cathedral. At the end of the Jubilee Year, the door is closed again and sealed for the next 25 years.

Walled Holy Gate (with Cross):

The holy gates are open. John Paul II walks through the door in 2000:

On December 24, 1949, the wooden panels, made in 1749, were replaced with bronze ones, by Vico Consorti, "master of doors" as he is called.

16 rectangular panels are separated by the coats of arms of the 36 popes who celebrated their next jubilee years. The main theme of the scenes depicted on the panels is the atonement of human sins by the grace of God.

The Lord knocks on everyone's door and waits for us to open it for him.

Panels of the Holy Door. 1st row:

Panels of the Holy Door. 2nd row:

Panels of the Holy Door. 3rd row:

Panels of the Holy Door. 4th row:

Jubilee year periodically proclaimed Holy year, during which the possibility of special absolution was allowed. This tradition has its origins in the Book of Leviticus of the Old Testament of the Bible (25:10): “... and sanctify the fiftieth year and declare freedom on the earth to all its inhabitants: this shall be your jubilee; and return every one to his possessions, and every one return to his tribe.”

The Hebrew word yo-bale" (hence the word "jubilee") means the sound of the shofar, the ram's horn, which announced the advent of the Year of Jubilee. Throughout the year, work in the fields was suspended, and slaves were set free. Houses sold or mortgaged (except those outside the walls cities or in the Holy Land) were returned free of charge to their original owner or his rightful heir, and all debts were released.

The Catholic Church associated the receipt of indulgences and the abolition of imposed penances with the jubilee years. The Holy Year was first celebrated in 1300 by decree of Pope Boniface VIII. Jubilee years were to be celebrated every hundred years, at the beginning of a new century. After Boniface VIII, it was decided to celebrate the anniversary every 50 years, then every 33 years (in honor of the earthly life of Christ). In 1470, Pope Paul II adopted a new decree: jubilee years should be celebrated every 25 years, so that each new generation could take part in the jubilee; A tradition arose obliging us to celebrate anniversary years at the beginning of each quarter of a century. At the beginning of the year 2000, called the Great Jubilee, Pope John Paul II, for the first time in history, pronounced a lengthy Mea Culpa on behalf of the Catholic Church, asking for forgiveness of sins committed by members of the church throughout history.

Interior

Inside, the cathedral amazes with its harmony of proportions, its enormous size, and the richness of its decoration - there are a lot of statues, altars, tombstones, and many wonderful works of art.

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican. View inside St. Peter's Basilica
from the main entrance:

Central nave

The total length of the basilica is 211.6 m. On the floor of the central nave there are marks showing the dimensions of other largest cathedrals in the world, which allows them to be compared with the largest, the Cathedral of St. Petra.

At the end of the central nave, near the last pillar on the right, there is a statue of St. Peter's from the 13th century, attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio. The statue is credited with miraculous properties, and numerous pilgrims reverently place their lips on the bronze leg.

St. Peter Statue:

Statue of St. Peter (this is how the foot was cut off by the kisses of pilgrims):

The dome, an architectural masterpiece, has a height of 119 m inside and a diameter of 42 m. It is supported by four powerful pillars. Pope Julius II laid the first stone of the new cathedral on April 18, 1506 at the base of one of these pillars (with a statue of St. Veronica).

Dome of St. Peter's Basilica:

In 1624, Urban VIII ordered Bernini to create 4 loggias in these pillars to store relics. Bernini's role in the creation of the sculptural decoration of the cathedral is very great; he worked here intermittently for almost fifty years, from 1620 to 1670.

Below the loggias, in the niches of the pillars, there are huge statues corresponding to the relics kept in the loggias. Currently, some of these relics are located in other places.

Statue of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

The relic is the head of a saint.

The relic was brought to Venice by Thomas Palaiolagos, the last ruler of Morea, fleeing the Turkish invasion of the Peloponnese, and presented to Pius II (1460). As a sign of friendship with the Greek Orthodox Church, in 1966 Pope Paul VI presented the relic as a gift to the Church of St. Andrew in the city of Patras, where the saint died.

The relic is the spear of Longinus.

Like his predecessors, Pope Innocent VIII tried to stop the Turkish invasion, but he succeeded without the crusade he had planned to undertake. Pierre d "Aubusson captured Djem, the brother and rival of Sultan Bayezid II. The Sultan and the pope entered into an agreement in 1489, according to which Djem was held captive in Rome, and the Sultan left Europe and paid a ransom every year. In 1492, Bayezid gave the pope a fragment of a spear, which was believed to have belonged to the centurion Longinus (information from saintpetersbasilica.org).

Statue of Holy Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles:

Relic - particles of the Life-giving Cross.

Many fragments of the Holy Cross kept in the cathedral were donated to other churches. Therefore, Pope Urban VIII decided the particles kept in the Church of St. Anastasia and the Cathedral of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Italian: Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which means “Holy Cross in Jerusalem” - one of the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome, located south of the Lateran ), move to St. Peter's Cathedral.

Statue of Saint Veronica. Author - Francesco Mochi, 1629:

Relic - part of the board with the image of Jesus Christ.

In the under-dome space above the main altar is Bernini's first work in the cathedral (1633) - a huge, 29 m high canopy (ciborium) on four twisted columns on which stand statues of angels, by Francois du Duquesnoy. Among these angels, one pair of angels holds the symbols of the pope - the keys and tiara, the other pair of angels holds the symbols of St. Paul - a book and a sword.

Ciborium (canopy) Baldacchino. Bernini:

The unusual shape of the columns repeats the silhouette of a twisted column from the Temple of Solomon, brought to Rome after the capture of Jerusalem. Among the laurel branches on the upper parts of the columns are visible the heraldic bees of the Barberini family. For ciborium it was required great amount bronze 100,000 pounds (37 or 45 tons, it all depends on which pound was used for measurements) were removed from the dome of the cathedral, then the same amount was sent from Venice and Livorno. When this was not enough, by order of Pope Urban VIII (Barberini), the structures that supported the roof of the Pantheon portico were dismantled. It was then that Pasquino said his catchphrase: “Quod non fecerunt Barbari fecerunt Barberini” (what the barbarians did not destroy, Barberini destroyed).

Although the canopy does not look particularly large in the interior of the cathedral, it is equal in height to a 4-story building. Bernini's masterpiece became the personification of the Baroque style.

The main altar is called the papal altar because only the Pope can celebrate Mass in front of it. The altar was consecrated by Pope Clement VIII on June 5, 1594. The altar was made of a large piece of marble brought from the forum of Emperor Nerva.

The main altar is called papal:

In front of the altar there is a staircase leading down to the tomb of St. Petra. This descent is called Confessio (confessional), because it can be considered as a cut-out window in the confessional, through which believers could turn their gaze to the shrine, hidden deep underground, where part of the relics of St. Apostle Peter.

“Confessional” of the Apostle Peter (under the floor is the place of the apostle’s supposed burial):

Place of storage of the relics of St. Peter the Apostle:

Through the canopy one can see the Cathedral of St., located in the central apse and also created by Bernini. Petra.

The Chair of Saint Peter:

It includes the chair of St., supported by four statues of the church fathers. Peter, above which the symbol of the Holy Spirit hovers in radiance. To the right of the pulpit is the tombstone of Pope Urban VIII by Bernini, to the left is the tombstone of Paul III (16th century) by Guglielmo della Porta, one of Michelangelo’s students.

Chair of St. Peter and Glory (fragment) Church Fathers

Church Fathers - an honorary title used since the end of the 4th century in relation to a group of prominent church leaders and writers of the past, whose authority had special weight in the formation of dogma, the compilation of the canon - the list of the Holy Books of the Bible (the separation of inspired books from apocryphal ones), hierarchical organization, and worship Churches. It is believed that the Fathers of the Church are distinguished by Orthodoxy of teaching, holiness of life, recognition of the Church and antiquity. The philosophical and theological teaching of the Church Fathers is called patristics.

In 1568, Pope St. Pius V recognized four Orthodox saints as Fathers of the Church: John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and Athanasius of Alexandria.

Saints Ambrose of Milan, Athanasius the Great, John Chrysostom and Blessed Augustine:

On February 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Apostle Peter, which is a symbol of his preaching of the Word of God in Rome. Actually, a simple wooden chair served as the pulpit for St. Peter. Subsequently, it was strengthened and decorated, as is believed in Byzantium. Bernini built the composition so that it seems that the pulpit is floating in the clouds, supported by the Fathers of the Church (statues 5 m high). The base of the altar is made of Aquitanian black and white marble and jasper from Sicily.

Right nave

First on the right is the Chapel of the Pieta, before the Crucifixion. The chapel was renamed in 1749 after Michelangelo's Pietà was moved here, having previously changed several places in the cathedral. The chapel is decorated with mosaics made by F. Cristofari according to drawings by Ferri and Pietro da Cortona. The latter is called the Bernini of painting because of the quantity and significance of his works for the cathedral. Above the altar is the fresco "Triumph of the Cross" by Lanfranco, the only fresco from the cathedral not translated into mosaic. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament contains the only oil painting in the cathedral.

Chapel of the Pieta, before the Crucifixion:

The chapel contains Michelangelo's masterpiece - the marble Pieta. It was created by Michelangelo at the age of 25 at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. The order for the sculptural group was received on August 26, 1498 from Cardinal Jean Bilheres de Lagraulas, ambassador of the French king; the work was completed around 1500 after the death of the cardinal, who died in 1498. The sculpture was intended for the tombstone of the cardinal. The pedestal was made by Francesco Borromini in 1626.

Pieta, or lamentation of Christ. Michelangelo:

After the attacker attempted to break the statue, it was protected with glass.
On May 21, 1972, on the Saturday before Trinity, Laszlo Toth, a Hungarian from Australia, shouting “I, Jesus Christ!” struck the sculpture 15 times with a hammer. All blows fell on the Mother of God. Two years before this attack, a German knocked off two fingers from the statue of Pope Pius VI.

Nearby is a magnificent wooden crucifix from the late 13th to early 14th centuries, attributed to Pietro Cavallini.

Next to the Pietà there is a small chapel of the Blessed Sacraments.

Chapel of the Holy Sacraments:

The entrance to the chapel is closed by a forged lattice, made according to a drawing by Borromini. The entrance to the chapel is closed to tourists. You can only come here for prayers.

Magnificent tabernacle by Bernini (1674), gilded bronze:

The central part of the tabernacle is made in the form of a Tempietto rotunda chapel by the architect Bramante (1502), located in the courtyard of the monastery of San Pietro in Montorio on the Janiculian Hill (eighth hill) in Rome.

Next to the Chapel of the Holy Sacraments is the tombstone of Gregory XIII,

On the left is an allegory of Religion, holding tablets with the law of God. On the right is Knowledge.

Tombstone of Pope Gregory XIII:

The bas-relief recalls the reform carried out by the pope - the introduction of a new calendar (Gregorian). October 4, 1582 was followed by October 15. October 4 is the day of remembrance of St. Francis, which should never have been missed. The pope is depicted with eminent astronomers and mathematicians, including Jesuit Priest Ignatius Danti, Father Clavius ​​of Bamberg, and Antonio Lilio of Calabria. The dragon below is the heraldic animal of the Boncompagni family.

Pope Clement XI, persuaded by Candinal Buoncompagni (Gregory's cousin), ordered this new tombstone.

Tombstone of Matilda of Canossa:

In 1077, in Canossa, the castle of the Margravess Matilda, the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, who had been excommunicated and deposed, humbly begged forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII.

Pope Urban VIII ordered this tombstone at the end of 1633. He wanted to honor the memory of this outstanding woman. On March 10, 1634, her body was transported from Mantua to the cathedral, where the tombstone was already ready.

The bas-relief by Stefano Speranza depicts Henry IV kneeling before Gregory VII on January 28, 1077.

At the top of the arch, Matteo Bonarelli, Andrea Bolgi and Lorenzo Flori sculpted putti holding a crown, a coat of arms and the motto: TUETUR ET UNIT (I protect and unite).

Altar of Saint Jerome:

Altarpiece "Last Communion of St. Jerome" by the artist Domenichino, 1614. Translated into mosaic in 1744. The famous painting is now kept in the Pinacoteca of the Vatican. The painting depicts St. Jerome receiving last communion from St. Ephraim, who is helped by St. Paula.

Hieronymus of Stridonsky
Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus (lat. Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; 342, Stridon on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia - September 30, 419 or 420, Bethlehem) - church writer, ascetic, creator of the canonical Latin text of the Bible. He is revered in both the Orthodox and Catholic traditions as a saint and one of the teachers of the Church. Saint Jerome's Day is celebrated by Catholics on September 30th. Memory in Russian Orthodox Church(called Jerome the Blessed) - June 15 (according to the Julian calendar), in the Greek Orthodox Church - June 15.

Tombstone of Clement XIII. Sculptor Canova (1792):

Left nave

Tombstone of Alexander VII by Bernini, 1678. The last masterpiece of the 80-year-old Bernini.

Tombstone of Alexander VII, sculptor Bernini (1678):

The Pope is depicted kneeling surrounded by allegories of Mercy (with children, sculptor G. Mazzuoli), Truth (resting his left foot on the globe, sculptors Morelli and Cartari), Prudence (sculptor G. Cartari), and Justice (sculptor L. Balestri). Initially the figures were naked, but on the orders of Innocent XI Bernini draped the statues in metal.

Altar "Transfiguration of the Lord". Raphael, 1520:

Cardinal Giuliano di Medici, the future Pope Clement VII, commissioned this painting in 1517 from Raphael for the French cathedral in the city of Narbonne - the cardinal's see. Having completed only the face of Jesus Christ, Raphael died on Good Friday in 1520. The painting was completed by Raphael's students - Giuliano Romano and Francesco Penni. Vasari wrote that the unfinished painting was displayed near the head of Raphael's deathbed, breaking the hearts of everyone who saw it. The painting remained in Rome in the Palazzo Cancelleria, and was then placed in the Church of San Pietro in Montorio after 1523. In 1797 Napoleon took it to Paris, the painting was returned back in 1815. The female figure below symbolizes the Church, which gives peace, hope and faith.
The film combines two plots - the transfiguration of Christ and the episode about the meeting of the apostles with a demon-possessed boy who was healed by Jesus Christ, who descended from Mount Tabor. The painting itself is now in the Vatican Pinacoteca, and in the cathedral there is a mosaic copy of it.

Of great interest is the work created in the 1490s. The tombstone of Innocent VIII by the sculptor Antonio Pollaiolo is one of the few surviving monuments that were still in the old basilica.

Tombstone of Innocent VIII (1498), sculptor Antonio Pollaiolo:

Tombstone of Pope Innocent VIII (1498), fragment:

In his left hand, the pope holds the tip of the Holy spear, with which the centurion Longinus pierced the crucified Christ to ensure his death. This tip was presented to the Pope by the Turkish Sultan Bayezid II, in exchange for his sworn enemy, who was also the Sultan’s brother, being held captive in Rome. The tip of this arrowhead, kept in Paris, disappeared during the French Revolution.

Not far from the entrance you see another creation by the sculptor Canova - the tombstone of the last representatives of the Scottish royal Stuart family.

Tombstone of the last representatives of the Scottish royal family Stuart: