The Vatican
Bernini, Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo – the founders of Renaissance and Baroque art – were an integral part of the creation of a truly unique state right in the very heart of an already spectacular old quarter in Rome. The artistic heritage of the Vatican, stored in an area that is only forty-four hectares in size, could keep you entertained for days on end. In room after room, you can admire ancient sculptures, wonderful maps and fresco paintings.
The heart of Rome and the Vatican are linked by Via della Conciliazione, which dates back to the Mussolini era. It draws you in, closer and closer to the majestic dome designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti. St. Peter’s Square is at the end of the avenue. It has an unusual elliptic shape and Bernini’s design makes it look as though the square is literally hugging Christianity. There is a twenty-five-metre ancient Egyptian obelisk right in the middle. It was transported there from Heliopolis under the orders of Roman Emperor Caligula.
Take some time to enjoy the Baroque façade before you step inside the basilica. Carlo Maderno was commissioned to create it and the only condition that he was given was that it should not shadow Michelangelo’s dome. This is why it has a predominantly horizontal design.
As you step inside, you will undoubtedly feel incredibly small in comparison with the naves, pillars and vaulted ceilings. Inside is where you will find ‘Pietá’ by Michelangelo. It is one of the world’s most famous sculptures and it is now safely stored behind a special bulletproof glass structure following a shocking incident in 1975 when a disturbed visitor attacked it with a hammer. Bernini’s truly iconic St. Peter’s Baldachin in bronze is also housed there.
There are many places from which you can admire the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. There is even a great vantage point through a keyhole on the top of the Aventine Hill. However, arguably the best way of getting to grips with its magnitude is climbing right up into it. Half way up, stop and take a look out over the railings and enjoy a truly unique view of the inside of the basilica. If you tend to get vertigo, though, perhaps this is not the best activity for you!
Last of all, before you step inside the Vatican Museums, remember to plan and prepare your visit. If you make the mistake of trying to see it all, you’ll end up stressed rather than impressed. The best idea is to set yourself some priorities such as not leaving without seeing ‘Laocoön and His Sons’ and ‘Apollo of the Belvedere’; ‘The School of Athens’ by Raphael; and the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo put all his artistic mastery to the test in order to please Pope Julius II.