St Peter's Basillica

The St Peter's Basilica. -with my friend Wendy

This is" the richest and grandest church on earth" 

The balcony where the Pope comes to greet his people.

Looking back at the entrance door. The middle is fenced off where the Pope enters from the center door and down the path. Here in the path are plaques that mark the length of other world churches compared to the length of St Peter's.

Looking from the door where you enter.

 The main altar is directly over over St Peter's tomb and under Bernini's seven-story bronze canopy which you see here. This marks the exact spot where Peter was killed over 1900 years ago. Where Peter said " I am not worthy" and insisted they nail him on the cross upside down.

The dove represents peace and is made of alabaster 

with the different colors to create the brilliance. Although it appears as a window, there is no light behind this.  The effect is from reflective light.

    

Another view of the beautiful altar. Only the Pope speaks from here.  Other church services are done from the side altars.

 Markings which I don't show of other churches such as St Paul's the next biggest. others: Notre Dame, Westminster, St Patrick's and others. The church can accommodate 60,000 worshipers  standing in six acres!

Above is the original work of Michelangelo's, Pieta, done at the age of 24.  It is placed behind bullet proof glass. This is done to save the art work from being damaged as it was a few years ago when a man (claiming to be Jesus Christ) took a sledge hammer to her face and damaged her eye and nose. The artist has signed his work with his name in the sash coming across Mary's breast. Usually he doesn't sign his work but back then someone had questioned that it wasn't his work so he went back and signed his name.

 The picture below is a copy that was made as an insurance that the statue will always be saved.

The tomb of St Peter's body

Beautiful dome above the altar.  Michelangelo's last work.  No building in Rome is allowed to exceed the height of this dome.

 This door is bricked in. The bricks are broken out and the door opened every 25 years. The Pope is scheduling to open it in 2015 which is ten years sooner than it is supposed to. This is the "Holy Door" and as you pass through it all your sins are to be forgiven.
I wouldn't recommend coming to visit that day unless you want to wait all day. The crowds that come now are thousands and the lines wrap around the city..

The Swiss Guards. You can ask them for a free papal ticket to get a seat to listen during the Pope's outside service. It is first come to the seats as there are many given out.  Usually the service is on Wednesday.
On to the Colosseum. See you there
ciao:)