St. Peter's Basilica a Roma is consecrated on November 18, 1626, after 120 years of work. The 'big day' comes 1.300 years after the consecration of the first Constantinian basilica. The great monumental work, symbol of Vatican City, has a late Renaissance and Baroque style.
Inside and outside the imposing Basilica there are works created by the greatest Italian artists of the time such as michelangelo, Bernini, Canova, Raffaello, Twine. St. Peter is, together with the sanctuary of Lourdes, among the most visited places in Christianity.
St. Peter's Basilica, the consecration after more than a century of work
One hundred and twenty years of work were required to build San Pietro with the commitment of hundreds and hundreds of workers. The building measures 218 meters long and 136 meters high up to the dome, with an area of 23 thousand square meters. The Basilica was consecrated in 1626; instead, for the completion of the square in front, it was necessary to wait until 1667.
These are just some of the numbers that make St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Every year there are several million tourists who come to Rome from all continents to visit the basilica, the symbol of the Catholic Church. In fact, that of San Pietro and is the largest of the papal basilicas.
St. Peter's Basilica, the origins
The initial project of the monumental work was promoted by Niccolò V towards the middle of the XNUMXth century. Later, the 18 April 1506 the laying of the first stone is held during the papacy of Julius II; the ceremony takes place in the place where, according to tradition, the apostle Peter is buried. In fact, the new church stands on the site of the Horti of Agrippina, the Circus of Nero and obelisk.
Next to the same obelisk theapostle Peter was crucified upside down. The construction area also includes the necropolis, with pagan tombs; there Me Rumuli pyramid, now lost, and the Mausoleum of Hadrian today Sant'Angelo castel.
The project
The project for the new basilica was later entrusted to the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The architect modifies some elements of the facade and gives shape to the marvelous colonnade that characterizes the square in front of the basilica and which bears his name. Bernini's colonnade ideally represents the embrace of Church of Christ to his faithful.
Over the years thearchitect Bramante designs the plan of the Basilica while the great Michelangelo Buonarroti he never draws up his definitive project but proceeds by sectors. In fact, on his death, many people try to reconstruct his original design to complete the unfinished work.
The consecration
It was Pope Urban VIII who consecrated St. Peter's Basilica on November 18, 1626. The luxury-loving pontiff and great patron embellished the city with important works including the great Catholic church, emblem of the glories of the Roman curia of those times.
Urban VIII he also built Castelfranco north of Rome, fortified the port of Civitavecchia, strengthened Sant'Angelo castel and chooses Castel Gandolfo as the pope's summer residence.
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