According to Wikipedia:
"St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people.[1] It is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world"[2] and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".
Religion aside, I was impressed. This I gotta see!
Waiting for the Pope! He is going to talk to this massive crowd in front of the Basilica. 
Behind these wall and gate is the secret Vatican kingdom!
Lining up to get into the Basilica, go early to avoid long wait. 
Polishing the marble floor before the huge crowd are let in. Our three young one wanted to go to the top of the Basilica's dome before the church hall, one look at this sign told us the "climb" is not for us!
I don't understand the language (why no English?) but I think what they are telling us is that if you pay €7.00, you will be taken up by lift part of the way and climb the remaining g 320 steps on foot!
However if you wanna save two Euro and pay €5, you will have to climb all 551 steps by foot! Bugger that!
So our young ones went up and me and Le General went and look at the church interior instead.
So what do I think of the interior? I am lost for words!
All the pictures above were shot with the
Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm F4.0 ASPH zoom lens.
According to Wikipedia:
"The entire interior is lavishly decorated with marble, reliefs, architectural sculpture and gilding. The basilica contains a large number of tombs of popes and other notable people, many of which are considered outstanding artworks. There are also a number of sculptures in niches and chapels, including Michelangelo's Pieta. The central feature is a baldachin, or canopy over the Papal Altar, designed by Gianlorenzo Bernini. The sanctuary culminates in a sculptural ensemble, also by Bernini, and containing the symbolic Chair of St Peter.
Helen F. North wrote: "St Peter's Basilica is the reason why Rome is still the center of the civilized world. For religious, historical, and architectural reasons it by itself justifies a journey to Rome, and its interior offers a palimpsest of artistic styles at their best..."
The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson described St Peter's as "an ornament of the earth ....the sublime of the beautiful."
All the pictures above were shot with the Panasonic
LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm F4.0 ASPH zoom lens.
Oh... on the marble floor of the church you will find some round brass grill that emit church hymn... ancient form of underground speakers? Take a look at this clip :)
Famous Last Words:
The rain started to ease outside, I look down at the giant square facing the Basilica and took my shot of the week!
Does the shot remind you of the style of a legendary photographer? :)
... to continue
Next... When In Rome 4
2 comments:
Yes reminds me of the legendary CY Leow!
Can you believe Ive been to Rome and didn't set foot in Vatican City! There was a huge Catholic Pilgrimage thousands of people lining up!
Lovely photos! the last one is amazing!maybe one day I will visit Rome. Sam`s brother was in Rome, training to be a priest but he was kicked out for "fornication."
Such beauty and grandeur exquisite architecture!
Its ironic because the catholic church is depicted in the bible as Babylon the great,, the Mother of Harlots.. gilded on the outside but full of abominations, founded on the blood of martyrs.
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