Jeanne Rose C. RegalaBSED – 2F

ST. PETER’S BASILICA

TABLES OF CONTENTS

Meaning of St. Peter 03

History of St. Peter Basilica 04

Parts of St. Peter Basilica 06

Exterior Part 11

Right Aisle and Right Transept 13

Left Transept and Left Aisle 16Four Piers 19

Pictures in St. Peter 20

Bibliography 26

Slides Number

ST. PETER'S BASILICA

*Italian: San Pietro in Vaticano

* It is the major basilica in Vatican City* an enclave of Rome

* The largest church ever built *It remains one of the holiest sites

History

1st Century AD

- hosted the Circus of Nero - St. Peter was martyred in the Circus - Emperor Constantine began construction on a Great basilica - shrine of St. Peter is still the central focus

Mid 15th Century

- the old basilica should be rebuilt- Pope Nicholas V asked architect Bernardo Rossellino to start adding to the old church- late 15th century Pope Sixtus IV had the Sistine Chapel - Construction on the current building began under Pope Julius II in 1506 - was completed in 1615 under Pope Paul V Donato Bramante was to be the first chief architect.- Michelangelo, who served as main architect for a while, designed the dome.- Bernini designed the great St. Peter's Square

Parts of St. Peter’s BasilicaSt. Peter's Square (Piazza San

Pietro)

- designed by Bernini and built between 1656 and 1667.

- Two beautiful FOUNTAIN in the square.

* the south/left one by Carlo Maderno (1613)

* northern/right one by Bernini (1675)

- center of the square is a 25.5-meter-tall OBELISK.

- The square is outlined by a monumental colonnade by Bernini.

OBELISK

Two of the Beautiful Fountain

Moderno’s Fountain

Bernini’s Fountain

St. Peter Square

EXTERIOR

- The Dome of St. Peter's was designed by Michelangelo

- Dome was vaulted between 1585 and 1590

* by the architect Giacomo della Porta

* assistance of Domenico Fontana

- Fontana built the lantern the following year, and the ball was placed in 1593.

Great Double Dome

- made of brick

- 42.3 metres in interior diameter (almost as large as the Pantheon)

- rising to 120 metres above the floor

Tambour

Attic

Bowl

Lantern

Lantern

Globe

Bowl

Attic

Tambour

Oculi

Dome

Right Aisle and Right Transept

- first major sight is Michelangelo's beautiful Pietà

- Up the aisle is the monument of Queen Christina of Sweden

Right Transept - contains three altars.

-Halfway to the transept is the large Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament

* Located in the right entrance

- St Wenceslas - St. Processo - St. Martiniano

Right Aisle

- It runs Pier of St. Longinus is the body of Pope John XXIII, displayed in a glass case beneath the Altar of St. Jerome.

Pieta Queen Christina of Sweden

CHAPEL OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

LEFT TRANSEPT AND LEFT AISLE

LEFT AISLE

- west of the transept, is the Chapel of the Column- On its south side is the Altar of Our Lady of the Column

LEFT TRANSEPT

- is the monument to Pope Alexander (Chigi) VII 

-It contains the altars of St. Peter's Crucifixion, St. Joseph (pictured at right) and St. Thomas.

Altar of Our Lady of the Column

North West Pier

Four Piers

- St Helena, Constantine's mother

North East Pier

South West Pier

South East Pier

-St Longinus, spear in the side of Christ at the crucifixion

-St Andrew, diagonal cross upon which he was martyred

-St Veronica, veil Christ used to wipe his face on the way to Calvary

PICTURES IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA

St. Peter's in 1630.

Note: The bell towers, which no longer exist.

St. Peter’s in 2012 night view

Michelangelo's dome high above the baldacchino.

CATHEDRA (THRONE) OF ST. PETER BY BERNINI AT THE WEST END OF THE BASILICA.

TOMB OF POPE JOHN PAUL II IN THE CRYPT.

STATUE OF ST. VERONICA WITH HER VEIL ONE ONE OF THE FOUR PIERS

STATUE OF ST. PETER IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Marvin Perry, A History Of The World (United State of America: Houghton Mifflin Company) 326-330

www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-st-peters-basilica