In front of St Peters Basilica lies the massive St Peter’s Square named after the apostle Peter. St Peter’s Square was designed by the baroque architect Bernini. In the middle of St Peter’s Square stands an enormous obelisk and next to this obelisk one can find a cross. Standing on this cross one can see straight through the lines of columns surrounding St Peter’s Square. Standing on the cross it looks like there is only one line of columns when it in fact are four rows.

Every sunday, if the Pope is in Rome, he blesses the people in St Peter’s Square.

Now, when it is time to enter St Peter’s Basilica, it is of utmost importance to think about how you are dressed. Dressed in a short skirt, shorts or an armless top one is not allowed to enter. This is also the case when visiting the Vatican Museum. The clothes must not show to much of arms and legs and definitely no naked bellies.

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When entering the St Peters Basilica and immediately turning right one will find the perhaps most beautiful sculpture of them all: Michelangelos Pieta. This sculpture today is safe behind a glasswall. In 1972 a violent man damaged Pieta with a hammer. Fortunately they were able to restaure the statue. Pieta represents the Virgin Mary holding Jesus Christ in her arms.

Michelangelo was only 21 years old when he for the first time visited Rome. He then got the task to carve ”the most beautiful piece in marble Rome had ever seen”. When the sculpture some years later was unveiled people could see that Michelangelo had succeeded. There is a legend that Michelangelo, who never signed his art pieces, one night sneaked in to sign his Pieta.

At the very front of St Peters Basilica one will find Bernini’s Baldacchino, a giant creation in bronze.The Baldacchino stands above the altar, which is somewhat lower than the floor. Only the Pope is allowed to be here. Under the altar St Peter is buried. The swedish Queen Kristina is also buried beneath St Peters Basilica.

In the middle of St Peters Basilica precious relics are kept, amongst others parts of Jesus Christ’s cross.

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In St Peters Basilica one can find the unique red marble, such as these keys in one of the entrances. This marble is very solid and one notices that the marble surrounding the keys is more worn down. This is the most expensive marble in the world and can be found almost exclusively in the St Peters Basilica.

To the right in the Basilica there is an elevator for those who want to go up to the columns under the dome. It is very high and not until one stands there one can imagine just how tall these columns are. If you have the strenght you can take the stairs some hundred steps further to reach the dome created by Michelangelo.

Take your time wandering around inside St Peters Basilica to discover all the beautiful big and small sculptures.

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