The Vatican City is the world's smallest state, which is located in Rome, Italy. When you are in Rome, you should spend at least a day to visit St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum. Both the basilica and museum always have long queues, but it is worth the wait. Be sure to check the opening hours before you go to maximize the utilization of your time. The dress code is strictly enforced at St. Peter's Basilica. Shorts, bare shoulders and miniskirts are not allowed. It can be reach by taking the Metro line A to station Ottaviano San Pietro stop.
Saint Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is located in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. Pope Alexander VII (1655-1667) decided to build the square. The Piazza was designed by the famous sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who completed it very rapidly between 1657 and 1667. The 240 meters wide and 196 meters long enormous ellipse square was built to allow a massive amount people to see the Pope give his blessing either from the façade of the church or from a window in the Vatican Palace. St. Peter's Square is embraced by semi-circular colonnades which on either side, according to Bernini, symbolize the arms of the church welcoming the people and the world. The colonnades were built in 1660 and have four rows of columns with, in total, 284 Doric columns and 88 pilasters. The columns are 20 meters high (66 ft) and 1.6 meters wide. The 140 Statues, which represent popes, martyrs, evangelists and other religious figures, were installed on top of the colonnades. They were all created by Bernini and his students. The Square can accommodate almost 400,000 people in special event such as the election of new pope. At the center of the square stands an Egyptian obelisk, 25.5 meters tall - 41 meters, including the platform. Today you can see two fountains. It originally had only one in the right size of the obelisk by Carlo Moderno in 1613. Later in 1677, Bernini decided to add one in the left side to maintain symmetry and asked Carlo Moderno to make an identical one.
Saint Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is located in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. Pope Alexander VII (1655-1667) decided to build the square. The Piazza was designed by the famous sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who completed it very rapidly between 1657 and 1667. The 240 meters wide and 196 meters long enormous ellipse square was built to allow a massive amount people to see the Pope give his blessing either from the façade of the church or from a window in the Vatican Palace. St. Peter's Square is embraced by semi-circular colonnades which on either side, according to Bernini, symbolize the arms of the church welcoming the people and the world. The colonnades were built in 1660 and have four rows of columns with, in total, 284 Doric columns and 88 pilasters. The columns are 20 meters high (66 ft) and 1.6 meters wide. The 140 Statues, which represent popes, martyrs, evangelists and other religious figures, were installed on top of the colonnades. They were all created by Bernini and his students. The Square can accommodate almost 400,000 people in special event such as the election of new pope. At the center of the square stands an Egyptian obelisk, 25.5 meters tall - 41 meters, including the platform. Today you can see two fountains. It originally had only one in the right size of the obelisk by Carlo Moderno in 1613. Later in 1677, Bernini decided to add one in the left side to maintain symmetry and asked Carlo Moderno to make an identical one.
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James Huang - All rights reserved.
wow ! I wish to be here someday.
ReplyDeleteI believe you will visit Vatican City soon.
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