Saint Peter's Cathedral (or Basilica) was inaugurated in Rome in a.d. 396, by pope Sylvester. It had been built by Constantine on Saint Peter's grave. Today's altar lies exactly on Saint Peter's tomb, where his relics are.
The Rome Cathedral we see today was started in 1506 and completed 120 years later. Many famous Renaissance architects contributed to its construction, Bramante among them. In 1546 pope Paul III appointed Michelangelo Buonarroti, already in his sixties, as official architect in charge. Michelangelo designed the greek cross plan of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, which was then completed by Della Porta, who designed the dome, and by Carlo Maderno, who built the facade. Saint Peter's Cathedral was consecrated on Nov. 18, 1626.
From Saint Peter's portico you enter the main entrance hall, with its five doors. On the right you can see the Holy Door, which is opened only every 25 years, in Jubilee or Holy years.
Saint Peter's Cathedral , located in Rome, Italy, has very remarkable dimensions: it is 230 m. long, the vault is 38 meters high, and the wings of the Dove of the Holy Spirit above Bernini's Baldacchino are 1,4 m wide.
In the first chapel on the right there is the cathedral's most beautiful sculpture: the "Pietą" (Mary Lamenting the Dead Christ ) by Michelangelo. This is Michelangelo's masterpiece, finished when he was only 23 years old, perfect in the figure's proportions as well as in their expression.
On the band across the Virgin's breast, Michelangelo carved his name. This is one of the few sculptures he finished and the only one he signed.
Under one of the dome pillars you will find the statue of Saint Peter (XIII century): note how the saint's feet are consumed by the believers' kisses.
The huge bronze sculpture, the Baldacchino (a canopy as high as a five-storey building) was made by Bernini.
In Rome, at Easter time, the Saints' relics are shown to the public: Saint Andrew's skull, the fragments of the Holy Cross, Veronica's shroud and a fragment of the lance used by a Roman soldier to hit Christ's chest .
The main altar is used only by the Pope, as He only can celebrate the Mass there.
The area behind the altar is used for solemn celebrations such as beatification, canonisation or for the coronation of a new Pope.
Chapel Clementina: it contains a monument to Pius VII, by the Danish artist Thorvaldsen, and in Saint Peter's Cathedral this is the only work of art made by a non-catholic artist.
In this Chapel, a mosaic reproduces the Transfiguration by Raphael (the original is on exhibit in the Pinacoteca Vaticana).
The Chapel of the Choir: here the Choir of the Cappella Giuliana sings during the Sunday Mass.
Chapel of the Battistero with its beautiful porphyry Christening basin which was probably made with part of the sarcophagus of Emperor Adrian.
In the "Porta della Morte" (Door of Death) of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, near the exit, you can see this sculpture by Giacomo Manzł, representing the death of Christ and the Virgin.
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Saint Peter's Basilica as Michelangelo had planned it
Saint Peter's statue above the Basilica's square
Central nave view
Dome view and bronze canopy by Bernini
the worldwide famous Virgin mourning the dead Christ by Michelangelo Buonarroti
Vatican City layout
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