St. Pietro - Basilica di San Piertro - St. Peters

Attractions - Basilica di San Piertro - St. Peters Cathedral

The St. Peters Cathedral, Basilica di San Piertro, lies next to the Vatican over a former shrine, which presumably is the burial place of the holy Petrus. Despite its venerable age of more than a 1000 years, Pope Julius II. decided to tear off the monument in the year 1506, in order to establish a sparkling brand new Basilica with his architect Bramante. The construction work took 120 years and employed a number of famous architects and artists such as Alberti, Bramante, Raphael, Peruzzi, the younger Sangallo and Michelangelo himself. Michelangelo was responsible for the enormous dome and the supporting pillars. Sadly Michelangelo died in 1564 before the work was finished in the year 1590. The interior of the Basilica is a public demonstration of the power of the church.

In the middle of the beauty of the first chapel on the right hand side you will see Michelangelos Piet (1498/9). The bronze statue of the holy St. Peters - St. Pietro (1296), created by Arnolfo da Cambio, is particularly famous for its foot reduced by pilgrims kisses. Bernini’s throne of the holy St. Peters - St. Pietro (1665) looks over the Pope’s altar was made of bronze dominates the rear part of the cathedral, after it was removed from the Pantheon by the Pope. Tourists can visit the dome by elevator or walking up the steps. You will see the Vatican gardens and the Vatican grottoes with the pope burial places. Ask for a tour guide at the Vatican tourist office. The entrance to the Nekropolis under the grottoes, is the place where the relics of the St. Petrus - St. Pietro are held. Tourists can only enter the grottoes via written permission.

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