 It
is the greatest church in the world and is dominated by the imposing Michelangelo's
dome. It was built in 324 A.D. by Constantine. The works which give the
present shape to the basilica began in 1506 thanks to the Bramante's plan.
Placed in the Vatican State (that is an independent State) it dominates
St.Peter's Square which is a Bernini's masterpiece. This basilica is the
spiritual centre of the Christendom and for its realization many great artists
like Bramante, Raffaello, G. from Sangallo, Peruzzi, A. from Sangallo masterly
worked. In 1547 Michelangelo joined those artists realizing the apse part
and the dome which represents the greatest masonry work never built. Later
on, Maderno erected the basilica's façade and, by order of the Pope, changed
the Greek cross plan of the church into the current Latin cross. Preceded
by an enormous perron, the basilica's façade is characterized by emergent
columns between which some windows take place. The largest window, that
is the central one, is the blessings loggia. The atrium, realized by Maderno,
is decorated with stuccoes and mosaics: among these, Giotto's mosaic "La
Navicella" is particularly appealing. Five bronze doors introduce to the
basilica; one of these, that is to say " The Saint Door", is open only on
the jubilees occasion. The church is imposing and and grandiose: in its
middle, under the luminous dome, adorned by mosaics, over the papal altar,
you can admire the Bernini's bronze canopy. On its right you can see St.
Peter's bronze statue, sculptured by A. di Cambio, having its right foot
warn out by the faithful's kisses. In the right aisle there is "La Pietà",the
famous Michelangelo's marble complex. In the Apse you can admire the splendid
"St. Peter's Chair", a bronze work by Bernini. If you want, you can visit
the basilica's dome from where you can enjoy an exceptional view of Rome.
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