A Week in Rome: St. Peter's Square and Basilica

I'm going to finish this Week in Rome series over the next week, giving myself time to concentrate on other things after the new year. So let's jump back into the opulence of the Vatican City. After getting lost in the Vatican Museum, our next order of business was to get lost in the world's biggest Christian church, St. Peter's Basilica.

From the entrance of the Vatican Museum, you follow the ancient, well-maintained city walls until your vista suddenly opens up on an enormous piazza, St. Peter's Square. The day we were there, hundreds of clergy were gathered, snapping pictures and chatting. Columns surround the square on both sides like a pair of tongs.

With all these clergy, you'd think it was the vatican or something.

That out of the way, we weave through the priestly crowds toward St. Peter's Basilica. The piazza on which we walk, St. Peter's Square, is located on the exact spot where Nero had his chariot races going and where he executed St. Peter. We heard that back in the old days the Roman emperors would strap Christians to posts or crosses, douse them in something flammable like tar, and set them ablaze to keep the place nicely lighted during the festivities. I hear they still do that down in Texas to light the hometown football games.

On into the Basilica. We had to pass through a security checkpoint before passing through yet more enormous columns.

It truly is an extraordinary church. Its size, decoration, and place in history take your breath away, no matter your opinion of its current managers.

The altar was especially nice. It's hard to see in this picture, but in the center of the white stained glass n the middle is a dove flying out of blinding white light.

This woman asks, "why do I have to carry EVERYTHING?"

Dad takes in the scenery.

Around the inside of the basilica is an inscription in latin. The section of inscription in the dome area translates as, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and I will give you the keys of heaven ". The section below is near the entrance.