St. Peter's Square is majestic and beautiful. Bernini's colonnade along the perimeter, coupled with the Cathedral of St. Petra give her completeness and harmony. Yes, a lot of people ... But apparently, this is a prerequisite for this area.
St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro)
St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), located in the northwest of Rome, is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It is located in the Vatican (see Vatican City Guide here).
Behind the outside of the colonnade at Piazza San Pietro, a short line is laid out with white stone on gray paving stones. This is not just markup, but the border of the Vatican City. This line is very formal, it is guarded by the Swiss guards in a colorful striped form. While in Piazza San Pietro, wait until the guard changes - this action is unusual, beautiful and exciting. You can go to sovereign territory almost unhindered: tourists are only required to observe decency in the wardrobe. Short shorts, miniskirts and bare shoulders are not allowed here.
San Pietro - the square bearing the name of the keeper of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, photo Edgar-Moskopp
Piazza San Pietro is a place of attraction for Catholics around the world. The Pope himself turns from here to believers, overshadowing them with a cross from the "box of blessing." Connoisseurs of cultural, historical, and artistic values rush here. There are no shops or souvenir shops. A huge space looks free even with a large concentration of tourists.
Obelisk
Obelisk
The center of the ensemble Piazza San Pietro is a granite obelisk. The stone colossus was brought from Egypt in the 1st century. For a long time, the rulers of Rome wanted to transfer it to the square, but the project was only possible in 1586. The grandiose operation was carried out under the direction of Domenico Fontana; It involved 140 horses and 900 people.
Every year near the obelisk in Advent, the Presepe festival is held. The figures in human growth depict biblical scenes of the birth of Christ and the worship of the Magi, and the figure of the baby changes every week - it grows.
Bernini and Maderno Fountains
Fountain against the backdrop of the Bernini colonnade, photo noemkr
On two sides of the Egyptian stele, at the symmetrical points of the square, baroque fountains Bernini and Maderno are installed. In them, as in all fountains in Rome, pure drinking water is supplied. Light stone rays of a sundial diverge from the obelisk along the pavement; the 36-meter stele is assigned the role of a gnomon.
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Saint Paul's Cathedral
The area, if you look at it from a height, has the shape of a keyhole - Saint Peter was the keeper of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. The dome of the main Catholic shrine - St. Peter's Basilica, dominates Piazza San Pietro. The facade of the building is crowned with statues of the eleven apostles. The bas-relief decorating the main portal depicts the scene of handing the keys to paradise to the Apostle Peter. In the central nave of the church, a statue of St. Petra (XIII century) - the subject of worship of pilgrims. Under the cathedral, on the lower level of the building, called the Vatican Grottoes, is a chapel - in it, before the execution, Saint Peter confessed. Under the chapel is hidden the tomb of the apostle.
The height of the building to the highest point of its dome is 136 meters. Climb to the observation deck of the basilica - from there you can see stunning panoramas of Rome!
Space square
Piazza San Pietro is always crowded
Celebration of the Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the square
The space in front of the basilica was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1656-67. It consists of two areas: the first, trapezoidal, is located directly in front of the wide steps of the cathedral and is surrounded by galleries; the second is oval, facing Rome, surrounded by the majestic colonnades of Bernini. On two sides of the obelisk on the cobblestones are two white circles. If you stand on any of these symbolic points, the semicircular colonnades will become visually "transparent" - four rows of giant columns will be arranged one after another.
Via della Conciliazione
Broad Via della Conciliazione leads from the square to the city - a street built by the order of Mussolini in 1930.
How to get there
Take line A metro to Ottaviano Station;
by tram 19 to the stop Risorgimento - San Pietro;
by bus No. 49 - to V.le Vaticano / musei Vaticani; author 32, 81, 982 - to Piazza del Risorgimento; author 492, 990 - to Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipion.
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