VATICAN CITY, ST. PETERS SQUARE and BASILICA

VATICAN CITY--

Modern Italy was created in 1870, but Vatican City wasn't recognized as a country until 1929.  This tiny independent country of little more than 100 acres, contained entirely within Rome, has its own postal system, armed guards, helipad, mini-train station, and radio station.  Politically powerful, the Vatican is the religious capital of 1.1 billion Roman Catholics (there are over 1,000 RC churches alone in Rome).  

Nearly 2,000 years ago, St. Peter's Square was the site of Nero's Circus--a huge cigar-shaped Roman chariot racecourse.  The Romans had no marching bands, so for halftime entertainment they killed Christians.  One of those killed here, in about 65 A.D. was Peter, who had come to Rome to spread the Gospel.  At his own request, Peter was crucified upside-down, because he felt unworthy to die as his master had.  His remains were buried in a nearby cemetery located where the main altar in St. Peter's is today.

When Christianity was finally legalized in 313, the Christian emperor Constantine built a church on the site of Peter's martyrdom.  "Old St. Peter's" lasted 1,200 years, was falling apart by the Renaissance and so the new, larger church was begun in 1506.  The new church was actually built around the old one.

ST. PETERS SQUARE/BASILICA--

Entering St. Peter's Square where the largest church in the world is located, St. Peter's Basilica!  The basilica is named after St. Peter.  Peter was selected by Jesus to head the church.  Peter was the first bishop of Rome and his authority has supposedly passed in an unbroken chain to each succeeding bishop of Rome--266 popes have followed!

St. Peter's Basilica in the background with a 90-foot solid granite obelisk in front.

Originally erected in Egypt over 2000 years ago, the obelisk was moved to Rome after the fall of the Pharaoh's to the Greeks and then the Romans.  The obelisk stood at Nero's Circus where it stood impassively watching the slaughter of Christians at the racecourse.

George with the facade of St. Peters--

 --with Christ, John the Baptist and 11 apostles lining the top, in addition to two clocks.

The last window on the right of the top floor is the Pope's bedroom.  To the left of that window is his study, where on Sunday he normally delivers a brief message, recites a prayer and gives his blessing to the crowd below.

 Topping the columns are Bernini's 140 favorite saints, each 10 feet tall!

19th century lamp post on the square

You can hardly see it, but the small building sitting behind the other buildings in the middle of the picture with the little chimney, is the Sistine Chapel!  Even before we departed on the cruise, our cruise lady informed us that the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum would be closed for the holiday, "All Saints Day."  This meant that for the second visit in a row Doug and I have not been able to tour those two sites!  We were so disappointed, but I guess we will just have to come again!!! 

For more than 2000 years, fountains have provided drinking water and decorated piazzas of Rome.  All of the drinking fountains are perfectly safe water for quenching your thirst. 

Guarding the small but powerful country of Vatican City are the mercenary guards from Switzerland.

Their colorful uniforms are said to have been designed by Michelangelo.

St. Paul's statue with a 2-edged sword on the right of the basilica,--- 

---and St. Peter's statue on the other side (the side we exited) of the basilica entrance.

About ready to enter the basilica

The outside atrium is itself bigger than most churches.  The huge white columns on the portico date from the first church (fourth century).  The bronze central door was a survivor also from the first church, which is now opened only on special occasions.  

The door panels feature Jesus and Mary, Paul and Peter, and how Paul (decapitated) and Peter were martyred!  This close-up picture shows Peter being crucified upside-down.  Peter requested this position because he didn't feel worthy to die as his master died.

Tile mosaic of keys on the floor just as you step inside the basilica.  The keys represent the keys to the kingdom that Jesus gave to the apostle Peter.

The famous Michelangelo's Pieta (completed when he was only 24 years of age AND his only signed work)--depicts Virgin Mary cradling the dead Jesus in her lap after his crucifixion.  

After the sculpture was vandalized by a madman with an axe in 1972, the masterpiece has been placed behind protective glass.

Central nave (central part of a church) looking to the altar

The main altar at the end contains the Chair of St. Peter.--

---According to tradition, the wooden chair belonged to Peter, which was embellished by Bernini.

Balacchino--a monumental canopy that covers the shrine of St. Peter, sculpted by Bernini--begun in 1624.

Above the tomb and towering over the main floor of the interior is a huge cloth-looking canopy with shimmering angels supported by 4 spiral pillars 60 feet high.---

---The entire work is made entirely out of cast bronze (even the cloth-like looking canopy), and was finished in 1634 after 11 years of work.

The seven-foot-tall lettering in the gold band along the top of the pillars contains every quote from Jesus to Peter found in the Bible and continues around the entire church!

Michalengelo's Dome (higher than a football field on end) above the canopy.  Under the dome, under the bronze canopy, under the altar, some 23 feet under the marble floor, rests the bones of St. Peter.

Every inch of the interior's surface is superbly decorated.

ALTARS (MANY ARE LOCATED IN SMALL CHAPELS)--


The interior has 45 altars that have been decorated by many famous artists.  You need to realize that the "paintings" aren't really paintings--they are mosaics (thousands and thousands of pieces of broken tile or glass).  There are too many chapels to mention, however, but here are a few of them:

The Chapel of St. Sebastian--
Named after the subject of the mosaic above the altar.  Below the altar is the body of Pope Blessed Innocent XI (1676-1689) that is preserved in a crystal casket. 

 On the right of the Chapel, is the statue of Pius XI (1922-1939), the first sovereign of Vatican City State which was created in 1929.

Altar of the Transfiguration--
 One of the most beautiful mosaics in St. Peter's, Altar of the Transfiguration is a reproduction of Raphael's last painting, "Christ on Mount Tabor."

The Baptistry Chapel--

The main altarpiece (1722) is a mosaic from an original painting representing the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

The original 5th century font was replaced by a sarcophagus used as a font.  The baptismal font is still used on Sundays to administer the sacrament of baptism.

Mosaic of St. Peter

Monument to Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) who relinquished the throne to convert to Catholicism

 Monument to Pope Pius VII (1800-1823) by Danish protestant sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (the same sculptor that created the Christus statue)  Doug and I had the opportunity of seeing the original Christus in Copenhagen, Denmark, last year!

Monument to Pope Pius VIII (1829-1830)

Plaque commemorating the popes buried in St. Peter's and the year of their burial.  There are over 100 tombs in St. Peter's including 91 popes (mostly in the crypt).

The tomb of Pope Innocent VII (1484-1492) was the first to depict a live pontiff rather than a deathbed effigy.

Tomb of Pope Blessed Innocent XI (1676-1689).  The face and hands are lined with silver coating.

Entrance to the Sacristy and Treasury Museum with a statue of St. Peter

Picture of George with Confession Booth in background

 Coat of Arms of Pope Innocent X (1644-1655) on the floor of St Peter's Basilica

As we were exiting St. Peter's Basilica, we had the opportunity of seeing the Changing of the Swiss Guard ceremony.

There are thousands of chairs set up for the weekly Pope blessings.

Over 300,000 people have been in the square at one time.

Well, this was the end of our Rome tour!  We were so grateful to be able to see so much of the city in one day, however Doug and I were very relieved that we were reunited with our group after getting separated.

Laura is posting what Doug and I (and the other couple) missed while being separated. 

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Tomorrow--we are so excited--we will be visiting PISA and FLORENCE!!!