Vatican City, Italy (Enclave of Rome): St. Peter's Basilica: St. Peter's Square with Colonnades
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Authors
Sheppard, Beth M.
Issue Date
May 20, 2017
Type
Image
Language
Keywords
Italy , Vatican City , Rome , St. Peter's Basilica , Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican , Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano , Naves , Sacred Art , Church Art , Basilicas , St. Peter's Square , Colonnades , Gian Lorenzo Bernini , Statues of Saints , Saints in Art
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
St. Peter's Basilica was originally designed by architect Bramante as a central plan at the behest of Julius II to be the largest, most magnificent church in Christendom when it was rebuilt in the early 16th century. Raphael and Michelangelo and later architects such as Maderno and Bernini designed and decorated the elongated nave to create a basilica which would hold large numbers of people and focus attention on the altar; therefore, it incorporates both Italian High Renaissance and Baroque sensibilities. It was begun in 1506 and completed in 1626. According to the Catholic Church, the very holy basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter. The photo shows a small part of St. Peter's Square with Colonnades, which is a large plaza directly in front of the basilica. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1656 to 1672. The colossal Doric colonnades, four columns deep, provide a framework for the trapezoidal entrance to the basilica (part of the top shown in the photo) and the massive elliptical plaza in front of it. Statues of 140 saints top the colonnades.
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License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0