The Square was redesigned in the Baroque architectural style by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and painted by Viviano Codazii in 1630. The design of the square was done by commission of Pope Alexander VII who wanted the great amount of people to be able to see when he gives his blessing.
In the centre of the St Peter’s Square is situated an amazing Egyptian obelisk of the 13th century BC, known as “The Witness”. The obelisk stands at a height of 40 metres, including the base and the cross on top, which makes it the second biggest standing obelisk.
The most prominent place in the square is taken by the two remarkable fountains, one on the right side of the square and other on the left side. Both of the fountains are very much alike with the only difference that they were built at different times.
The right side fountain was designed by Carlo Madeno and executed by order of Pope Paul V in 1614. The fountain depicts the Borghese family’s coat of arms and an eagle above a dragon.
The fountain on the left side of the square was established by order of Pope Clement X about sixty years later than Madeno’s one. It depicts an inverted pyramid of six stars.
The monumental colonnade of St.Peter’s Square represents the welcoming of all people around the world in the bosom of the Catholic Church. The colonnade consists of 284 columns, arranged in four rows which viewed from either side of the ellipse give the impression that the colonnade is composed of only one row of columns.
On the top of the colonnade there are statues of 140 saints, among them are the statue of St.Macrina, St.Francis, St.Benedict also the statues of St.Dominic and St.Ignatius of Loyola.
Undoubtedly the most famous statues in Rome are that of St.Peter and St.Paul, the patron saints of the city. Standing at a height of 5.55 metres, the St.Peter statue was designed by Giuseppe De Fabris in 1838-1840, while the statue of St.Paul was designed by Adamo Tadolini in 1838.
Address:
St.Peter’s Square
Vatican City
Rome
Italy
Tel: +39 06 6988 3712
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