(Earlier today, we were at the Musei Vaticani and the Sistine Chapel )
May 26th, 2009
After the Sistine Chapel and a long lunch, we walked along the periphery of the Vatican wall to reach the St. Peter’s Basilica.
The church is built right atop the necropolis where the saint, the very first pope is buried. The turn of century church was rebuilt in 1506 by Pope Julius II using Bramante as the architect, Over the next 170 years several artists – Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bernini added to the original structure.
Before the Church, you take in the Piazza de St. Pietro (St. Peter’s Square), a cobbled courtyard enclosed by two rows of colonnades – the famous Baroque embrace. When Bernini designed this master piece in 1667, he had to consider several things. He needed to make sure that no part of the enclosure hid even the tiniest bit of the facade. Plus he needed to create an enclosure as large as he could to accommodate the sea of people who turned out for the pope. Not to forget the 13th century obelisk to consider.
His design is simple. He has two rows of colonnades jutting straight starting at the end of the facade, then dramatically spreading out, encircling the courtyard, using the Obelisk as the center. He then added a fountain to balance Maderno’s, the obelisk forming a beautiful serendipitous sundial. The view from the cupola unlocks a Bernini Easter egg that is not apparent from the Piazza level. The courtyard is shapes like a key hole to go with St. Peter’s Keys. The breathtaking piazza itself is worth a prayer.
I wish we had come here early in the morning. Piazza at 8:00. The church at 10:00 and museum after lunch is the ideal order.
(Read on. We are headed to the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica)
