In Roman times the Vatican was the site of the Circus of Nero where St Peter was crucified (circa 64-67AD) .Pope Julius II (1447-1455) began construction of a new basilica, architecture by Bramante, which took 176 years to complete. Michelangelo, almost 70 years old, began to build the dome in 1546 and after his death in 1564 only the drum was completed so others had to finish it.
These artworks are priceless you say. Yes they are now but they were bought with blood and crime and immorality aka the papal city and the pope and cardinals. It's little more than money, money, money and power through the ages purchased on the backs of poor people's offerings, rich families' vanities. And it continues of course. Religion is politics.
There was a statue of St Peter and people were actually caressing the feet of the statue. It's a hunk of bronze for goodness sake, it was never living. Someone made it and got paid for it too. It's all commercial and still is.
I missed learning about anecdotes connected with various artworks because the guide was an Italian speaking French and the concentration required to understand even 50% of what was being said in a noisy environment was beyond me. Michelangelo's Pieta is set back behind glass so you can't approach closely.
Beware, you can easily lose the other members of your group here because the place is huge and at peak tourist season you can't distinguish one group from another.
The canopy over the papal chair is totally OTT and I found it rather too heavy-looking.
The walls were painted by a variety of artists to illustrate the new and old testaments. In 1508 Julius II ordered the young Michelangelo to paint the immense ceiling which covers 800 square metres. He painted the Last Judgement on the wall behind the main altar. Between 1980 and 1994 a large-scale restoration of the frescoes on the ceiling and the Last Judgement was carried out and the colours are still quite vivid now that the dust and old animal glues have been removed.
Photos are permitted inside St Peter's proper (without flash) but there are many churches in Italy where no photos are permitted inside and you are not welcome with bare shoulders, despite the heat.
We had arrived at the Vatican early in the morning and I highly recommend that because the crowds are rather awful as lunchtime approaches. This goes for all major monuments in Italy. Do them in the mornings. travel and shop in the afternoons. Next stop Assisi.
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