St. Peters Square – Things To Do in Rome, Italy
St. Peters Square is not only the most famous place in the universe, but it is also the most photographed. The square is actually not square, but round with boundaries set by colonnades. St. Peters Square has the ability of drawing in people, young and old, and of every religion due to the beautiful landscapes that it offers. The square is embellished with beautiful fountains built in the 1,600’s, as well as statues of the 140 saints arranged throughout the square in front of the Basilica.
The Vatican
The Vatican itself can only be entered from St. Peters Square, and tourists flood the Vatican City in search of many different things, but they are always lured in by unseen forces to the Basilica where two of the biggest statues on the universe are located. St. Peter and St. Paul seem to be the meeting point for many tourists, possibly because it is the starting point to the Vatican. The splendid square is dominated by the greatest church of Christendom and the magnificent Dome of Michelangelo.
Rome
Rome is a city that is thousands of years old, and the Vatican offers museums filled with these treasures of the past. The Egyptian Museum has relics dating from 681 to 705 B.C., but this is only one of the many museums that the Vatican has to offer. It would take a week to fully see all of the wonderful tapestries, galleries, and artifacts that have been carefully displayed throughout the complex.
Architecture At Its Finest
Italian Renaissance can be appreciated from just about any area that you explore, but some of the highlights are the interior within the buildings. Statues and arched entryways invite you to look into a world of high art and beauty. Some of the most beautifully designed woodwork and architecture can be seen here as well as paintings worth millions of dollars.
Famous Statues
The monuments found at St. Peters are like no other in the world as they were constructed by some of the best artists who made these statues life like, and embellished them with special effects. The most famous monument at St. Peters is that of the Pope Alexander VII who commissioned a world famous artist to enclose St. Peters Square with the colonnade. An exit door found directly under the monument leads you out of the basilica.
The Sistine Chapel
Many visitors come simply to see the Sistine Chapel that emits black or white smoke during the papal elections. From the square you can see the roof of the chapel, but you must walk along the Vatican wall to the museums entrance to visit the famous chapel. Of course the Vatican has a dress code and many tourists have been turned away from viewing sacred places simply from not being dressed appropriately. Bare shoulders, short skirts, and shorts are strictly forbidden in these places. No matter what your reasons is for visiting St. Peters Square it is sure to be an experience that you are not likely to ever forget.
