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One of the initiatives celebrating 500 years since the arrival of the Papal Swiss Guard in Rome, this exhibition examines the guards and their role within the Vatican in detail. A series of objects, photos and footage are on display and illustrate the development this institution has had from the 16th century to the present day.
They number only about 100, and to qualify, one must be Swiss, Catholic, and at least five feet eight inches (173 centimeters) tall.
Today they drill with state-of-art equipment—circa 1500—preparing for the biggest day on their calendar, the ceremony where they will pledge their fidelity and their lives to the pope.
The Swiss Guards do serve a ceremonial role, but they are also a carefully trained security force. When the pope moves in public, the guards shed their stripes for plain clothes and join members of the Vatican police to form a cordon around the pontiff. Address: Braccio di Carlo Magno del Colonnato del BerniniPhone: 0669898116Directions: Piazza San Pietro
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There is none arriving to the square and forgetting to look at the famous window from where the Holy Father speaks during the great religious feast days or gives the Benediction of the Angelus on Sundays.
From the Apostolic Palace, where the Holy Father resides, only the upper floors come into view over the right hand arm of the colonnade.
The first 3 windows of the top floor belong to the Holy Father's apartment.
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Saint Peter's square is just in front of the Basilica, and it's the centre of the Vatican City. It is here that vast masses are held by the Pope, and where many of the christian celebrations are done.
The square itself is surrounded by many beautiful sculptures of different popes and saints plus 2 amazing fountains, made by Bernini and Maderno. In the centre of the square there's an obelisk that comes from Neron's Circus.
Just below Saint Pete's Basilica you'll be able to find 2 statues, one of Saint Peter and the other one of Saint Paul. Both of them are the biggest ones on Earth (like many in this city regarding religion).
The square is a meeting point for many tourists, and definately the starting point of the Vatican City. Leave a Comment
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The majestic St. Peter's Square welcomes you once entered the Vatican City.
Designed by Bernini, St. Peter's Square it is actually more than a simple square, is a symbol: the two semicircular arms of the colonnades symbolize the arms of the church embracing the pilgrims.
The square has an ellipse shape (240m wide) and was completed by Bernini between 1656 and 1667, according to the orders of Pope Alexander VII. Address: P.za S. Pietro I - 00193 Roma Vaticano
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The famous obelisk stands in the centre of the square.
It was brought to Rome by Caligula in order to decorate the "spina" of Nero's circus, but Sixtus IV decided to move it from the original position and Domenico Fontana took care of erecting it in the middle of St. Peter's Square.
At the top of the obelisk is a relic from the Holy Cross.
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On both sides of the obelisk, between this one and the fountains, two discs, inserted into the ground, mark the focal points of the square's elliptical shape.
Sitting on this point and looking to the colonnades, these seem to consist of a single row of columns.
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Built by Bernini between 1656-1667 is divided in two parts. First one has trapeze form and its function consist in distance Maderno s front. The second parts has elipse form.
The max. measument is 240m, 340 of depth, 285 columns and 140 statues made by bernini students. Leave a Comment
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The square is actually round, with the perimeter marked by two huge colonnades. The roofs of these colonnades are supported by four rows of Doric columns 60-feet tall. The ellipse symbolizes Saint Peter's, the mother church of Christianity, embracing the world.
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Every Wednesday morning is the big Open Air general audience of the Head of this state and the Roman Catholic Church. St. Peter Square is filled almost to the limits of its capacity. The Pope is greeting all the various groups of pilgrims who announced their coming in advance in at least ten or so languages and most of these groups confirm that with an applause and many "Benedetto! Benedetto!" cries sometimes comparable to AS Roma's "tifosi". The new Pope seems to have won surprisingly many sympathies after all the sceptics when he was elected.
From the big distance the Pope does not appear larger than a tennis ball but there are huge screens where everyhing can be seen excellently from every corner of the square. Leave a Comment
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This is the main square of Vatican City, it is made up of 284 pillars and 140 statues of saints and martyrs. Also The pope addresses the masses here every sunday. The surroundings of the square are sculptures of different popes and saints plus 2 amazing fountains made by Bernini and Maderno in the middle of the square. In the centre of the square there's an obelisk that comes from Neron's Circus. Just below Saint Peter's Basilica you'll be able to find 2 statues, one of Saint Peter and the other one of Saint Paul. Which are the biggest ones on Earth
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