Few people are left unmoved by St. Peter’s, whether it’s the sheer opulence of the interior or the staggering art treasures within it.
St. Peter’s Basilica, which was designed by Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini and Bramante, is for many the reason why they came to Rome. The utterly mind-blowing church is not only the centre of the Catholic Church and place of pilgrimage for millions each year, but it also holds a particular fascination for non-believers too, who come to marvel at the beauty of the architecture and works of art on show there. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the largest church in the world, nor is it the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, yet it holds a unique position as the greatest of all churches in Christendom.The site of the church is held to be the burial site of one of the twelve apostles, Simon known as Saint Peter of Galilee, who was crucified at the hands of Emperor Nero in the year 64 A.D. Peter’s grave was marked by a simple red rock, a symbol of his name, which comes from the Latin Petrus deriving from ‘petra’ which means ‘stone’ or ‘rock’ in Greek, and his tomb is traditionally believed to be directly below the altar of the basilica. Peter took on a leadership role in the formation of the early Christian Church and was the first Bishop of Rome, and hence the first in the succession of popes that continues to this day. The rock was replaced with a shrine, and then a wooden basilica in 360, which lasted until the 15th century, when Pope Julius II commissioned the new St. Peter’s, with the above-mentioned group of Renaissance masters, among others, all working on the project over the course of a hundred years or so.Inside the church and in the attached Vatican Museums and galleries are some of the most celebrated works of art in existence including the heart-stopping Pietà sculpture and the famous Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo, Bernini’s altar really has to be seen to be believed and defies description, as does the collection of masterpieces in the Vatican galleries.St. Peter’s Basilica is in the Vatican City and open daily but check online for the Vatican Museums opening times. It is located on the other side of the Tiber from the city centre but you can easily reach it by getting off at the Ottaviano Metro station, or better still on foot by walking up Via della Conciliazione.
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