Sightseeing Tours in Rome: St. Peter's Basilica and the
Vatican
By: Stefano Sandano
When you have planned to visit Rome, your main goal has to be to
visit the vatican city.Since 1929 the vatican is considered the
smallest country in the world and this historical area is visited
every day by around 10.000 persons. St. Peter's Cathedral
completely dominates the Roman landscape. Its great dome, rising
448 feet, can be seen from most places in the city. The dome
itself is a masterpiece of architecture designed by Michelangelo
and the most audacious building scheme that had ever been
attempted. The diameter is 142 feet-the same as that of the
Pantheon -and Michelangelo spent the last sixteen years of his
life making it the most glorious miracle of art and beauty in the
world.
he church is the largest in the world; its vestibule alone is 468
feet long and 66 feet high; but the church proper just swallows
the visitor completely. Some authorities claim that 80,000
persons can be accommodated here. This figure seems a little high
to me, but in any case many thousands can stand in this great
building. I say stand because in none of the churches of Rome did
I see seats-there just aren't any. Everything inside is in
proportion to the large dimensions of the building. The statuary
is gigantic in size. What appear to be large paintings here and
there turn out to be beautiful mosaic work as one draws nearer.
There are no paintings here-all are beautiful mosaics.
Of course, the church has to have its relies and the most
important ones here are "the spear with which Longinus pierced
the Saviour's side," a portion of "the true Cross," a veil
bearing the impression of Christ's face and the head of Andrew.
The so-called tomb of Peter is here too, and the many faithful
gather round it to pray and to rain down upon it their gifts of
money-paper money was lying all round the crypt. Once entered on
the right side you can admire the world's most beautiful
sculpture, Michelangelo's "Pieta," showing the Saviour in His
mother's arms after being taken down from the cross. Just
opposite is a huge work showing Ignatius Loyola, founder of the
Jesuits, treading on the neck of Luther and the latter, twined
about with snakes, is being pushed into Hell. I saw the sign of
the peacock, an old heathen symbol that I had seen in Ceylon and
Babylon and Pergamos, entered right here in the church. And, of
course, the high altar faces the east. A little further along is
the old statue of Peter with its well-worn toe. Being one of the
four patriarchal Basilicas, the church has a "Holy Door" on which
the pope knocks with a little gold hammer once every twenty-five
years and the souls of all in purgatory escape to the realms of
the blessed. Once you come out from the sistine chapel tour, the
tour guide can lead you directly to the basilica dedicated to the
first martyr of Rome, who rests exactly under the main altar
decorated by the wonderful canopy of Bernini.
If you want to discover the treasures of the vatican when
sightseeing in Rome you can first visit http://www.romanguide.com
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