 | Rome St Peter's - San Pietro Reviews | Tips 31 - 40 of 214 |  |
This is an amazing building. It is HUGE!
There are so many parts to visit, including small chapels and the tombs downstairs where the popes are buried.
The dome is suppossed to be spectacular, but we did not have time to visit, apparantley the views of Rome from the Dome are unrivalled.
We had to queue to get in, and go through a security check, they are also very strict on clothing, your shoulders must be covered, no shorts or hats either. Leave a Comment
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St. Peter is very impressive, first the large square from which you walk up to the church and then the inside - wow!
To me as a lover of Michelangelos works the pieta was the most touching and impressive part. Unfortunately it can only be seen behind a thick layer of bullet proof glas nowadays. Unbelievable that this crazy guy tried to destroy it a few years ago.
I also went up to the cupola and the breathtaking view is really worth the effort. You can take the elevator up about halfway, the rest inside the cupola has to be done by foot, it's pretty steep and sometimes very small nothing for people with agoraphobia. Leave a Comment Address: Vatican
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When you're up there you, will be rewarded with a breathtaking 360 degree view of Rome and of St Peter's. Of course you should know that it's a bit crowded up there but just try to squezze yourself in and you will always get your place on the front. Sometimes you also have to fall in line to get to the exit but it's not really that bad. Leave a Comment
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A visit to San Pietro is always a great moment of cultural, spiritual and artistical life (you may line up my words in a different way).
So much has been written about the head basilica of Christianity that I don't see what to add to the many comments. Therefore I just made a travelogue.
Oh yes, I liked the modern floor cleaning machine.
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St. Peter's is probably the most impressive church in the world. Its sheer size is incredible: over 600 feet long, 400 feet wide and cover over 6 acres. Of course it is holy ground for Christians all over the world and also for anyone who appreciates great art. Michelangelo of course designed the overwhelming dome, his Pieta is here and Bernini did the large bronze canopy which towers 70 feet over the high altar which is over St. Peter's tomb. A little further behind the altar is St. Peter's throne with Bernini's starburst dove window above.
I was sorry not to get any photos inside the church, but always honor the requests for no flash or no photos and really dislike tourists who ignore them. Leave a Comment
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As with all the old Roman buildings, there was an old St. Peter's (completed around AC 349) before the current one was built over it. It was built on top of clay soil that didn't drain well, so the hilltop was quite soggy. Because of this, the old basilica developed structural damage over a few hundred years and had to be rebuilt (starting in about 1506 and taking over 100 years to finish).
The present St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most important and beautiful churches in Rome. It is over 25,616 square meters in area and has 44 altars, 11 domes, 778 columns, 395 statues and 135 mosaic pictures. For the architecture buffs, its dome was designed by Bramante and Michelangelo. The columnade was built by Bernini and the obelisk in the centre of the square was erected by Sixtus V.
St. Peter's is actually in Vatican City---A separate enclave within Rome which is governed both spiritually and politically by the Pope. It is surrounded by a wall built to protect the Tomb of St. Peter and also encloses the Papal Palace and beautiful gardens.
St. Peter's is Catholicism's most sacred shrine. Being catholic, we made our pilgrimage there and marveled at the beautiful structure. There is a small fee to go up in the dome, but well worth it for the magnificent views---both inside the dome and of the city around the basilica. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, even if you pay the extra to ride up to the dome in the elevator. To get to the outside viewing area is an additional 300 or so steps. The inside of the basilica is also a not to be missed experience. There is sculpted marble of all colors everywhere you turn. Expect to spend quite awhile here in order to see it all, the place is huge. Within the columnade is even a post office. We mailed a couple post cards from here to get the Vatican post mark. This is truely the most beautiful "church" I've ever been in! Whether you are Catholic or not, you should appreciate the workmanship throughout St. Peter's. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza San PietroDirections: Buses and subways will come close to this area.
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The view of Bernini Square from the top of the Vatican is awe-inspiring. You can sit in the middle of the square and admire the sculptures on the colonnades for a long time. The square, or actually ellipse, is bounded by two colonnades, supported by 4 deep, 60 foot columns. There are markings in the square, where you can stand and it creates the optical illusion of one row of columns, as the back ones are perfectly hidden by the front ones. The square was designed by Bernini, under the direction of Alexander VII. The ellipse shape symbolizes St Peter embracing the world. Leave a Comment
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At St. Peter's square, there is one precise point where you can see all the columns lined, making it look like there is only one row. I find it to be quite cool, but I have a tendency to appreciate the most simple things, so maybe there's no interest to it whatsoever :-) Directions: Right or left side of the obelisk, in the center of the square.
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very magnificient, see Michelangelo's Pieta on the right side as you enter St.Peter's. Climb up to the top of the church to get a breathtaking view of Rome. You can either walk or take the elevator for two stories, but everyone must take the stairs to the very top. The elders be advised. The climb is very exhausting, but it is worth it. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza San Pietro, RomeDirections: located on the west side of Rome, take the subway Metro red line (direction Battistini) to the Ottaviano-San Pietro station. Walk a few blocks, and you're there.
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This is simply the best church of Christianity, the biggest and the holiest. Many pages can be written about it, but you can't just read, you have to see it to believe it. It is spectacular from outside and even more great from the inside. Tip: one can take pictures of the inside, but it is forbidden to use a tripod. There are a number of features inside the San Pietro Basilica, like Bernini's Canopy, San Pietro's burial chamber (in the catacombs), burial chambers for many Popes (now also for John Paul IInd) that you just have to spend some hours to see. Useful tips: People showing too much skin - shoulders or legs - are strictly forbidden to enter the Basilica, so be sure you get a pairs of long pants for men and at least a veil for covering your girlfriend's shoulders! Leave a Comment
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