In my last post we stood in St. Peter’s Square and looked at St. Peter’s Basilica. This time we go inside plus visit the Vatican Museum as part of my armchair travel series. This post is based on a 2015 post.
St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is one of the world’s great churches. It is simply breathtaking. Walk inside and you are ready to join the Faith… whether you are faithful or not. The church was built during the Renaissance utilizing the greatest artists of Italy when Italy had the greatest artists in the world.
Visiting, you might say, is an indulgence of the highest order. In fact the church was built on indulgence… or, more correctly, indulgences: lots of them. Let’s say you committed a very, very BIG sin. No problem, if you were very, very wealthy. The church was willing to sell you forgiveness, an indulgence if you will. It was a guarantee you’d make it through the Pearly Gates.
The practice was so widespread, and so profitable, and so corrupt in fact, that it led a relatively unknown monk by the name of Martin Luther to tack up a list of 95 demands on the doors of a German church and kick off the Protestant Reformation.
But that is all far behind us in the very distant past. I, for one, am glad that the Pope found a way to pay for his splendid monument. And, I suspect, given a few minutes alone with Michelangelo’s Pieta, the most protesting of Protestants would agree.
If St. Peter’s isn’t enough to pull you into the Vatican, its magnificent museum with over four miles of art should. The tour ends with the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo spent four years on his back filling 5900 square feet with art.
Our tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum was far too short. Even cutting out half of the museum, I felt like an Olympic sprinter. Give yourself a couple of days to explore these outstanding treasures.
NEXT POST: We will visit Rome’s ancient forum.
28 thoughts on “The Go-To Church for 1 Billion Catholics: St. Peter’s Basilica… Armchair Travel”
Andrew Petcher
I agree Curt, a most wonderful museum.
Did you take the tour to the top of St Peter’s? It is well worth an attack of angina!
Curt Mekemson
No, we didn’t get up to the top of St.Peters, Andrew. As I recall, we ran out of time. There was so much of Rome to see in the three days that we had. I would guess that the view would be absolutely spectacular, however. –Curt
GP Cox
I would love to get into their archives, but you have to be a very special person to do that! I can’t imagine how long it took someone on their back to complete the ceiling of the map room!!
Curt Mekemson
Apparently, painting while lying on your back was quite the thing in those days, G. One can only imagine what all is included in those archives! I’m not sure that my one year of high school Latin would get me very far. 🙂 –Curt
gerard oosterman
How wonderful this journey. My sins are not for sale, they are too precious.
Curt Mekemson
Leggy Peggy was right there with you, Gerard! 🙂 Maybe it’s an Australian thing! Thanks. –Curt
leggypeggy
I’m with Gerard. No way I’d sell my sins. Fabulous building anyway.
Curt Mekemson
That’s funny, Peggy. 🙂 I’m with you and Gerard. I’m glad to own my sins. Own up to them? That may be a different matter. (grin) –Curt
Alison and Don
Not remotely surprised by the corruption. Happens in every religion. Apparently good Buddhists too can buy their way to Nirvana lol. I am endlessly sceptical when it comes to religion. But . . . I agree the treasures this graft has given us is a wonderful thing! We fortunately had quite a bit of time in the museum, and I kept looking up and around at the ornate walls and ceilings that constantly reminded me that the building was previously a palace. I also spent time in front of the pieta – such an extraordinary piece of art. The chapel was a disappointment at it was quite literally wall to wall people and a guard was angrily trying (without success) to control people and actually called Don a dwarf! And not in a nice way. We did however take the time to look up.
Alison
Curt Mekemson
Hopefully Don had an appropriate response to the guard, if only a well-concealed symbolic gesture. 🙂 It was wall-to-wall people when we were there as well, which I guess isn’t surprising. The rest of our trip through the museum wasn’t that bad.
I am never surprised about religion given that it is an all-too-human institution! –Curt
shoreacres
I’m not one of those who grouses about how all that money could be better spent. The fact is that secular charitable institutions can be just as corrupt as the Church, and many of them don’t leave us anything approaching this kind of beauty. Besides — people need beauty. It’s the old bread/daffodils argument, but being the both/and sort that I am, I’ll accept the beauty as the gift that it is- -and then leave something in the alms box!
Curt Mekemson
God only knows (slight irony), we spend billions on less worth while things, Linda. There are other things about religions, such as religious wars, that disturb me much more. Building or making something of great beauty in the name of God is one thing… –Curt
yourtravelrecipes
Good Curt. There is a reason why Rome is called “the eternal city”. A visit there does really stick to your memory for your entire life. I was used to go to Rome at least once a year before the pandemic so I miss being there now.
Curt Mekemson
I’m a bit jealous about the once a year, Matteo! I’ve only made it there twice. And yes, it has an eternal feel to it. –Curt
CompassAndCamera
I’m agnostic, but St. Peter’s is my favorite church in the entire world. The sheer size is just awe-inspiring. Thanks for your perspective!
Curt Mekemson
I’m agnostic as well, Kelly. But I do admire the great art that religion has inspired. One can understand the meaning of awe! Still, I would take the Redwoods as my go-to church. 🙂 –Curt
CompassAndCamera
Cheers to that! The Redwoods are divine.
Curt Mekemson
Yes. 🙂
Dave Ply
The Basilica is seriously impressive, but despite the grandeur I’d trade it all to spend more time communing with the Pieta. I’m not especially religious, but I consider that to be the finest piece of sculpture I’ve ever seen. We too only had time for but a fragment of the museum, but even that fragment was huge.
Curt Mekemson
I have to agree, Dave. The Pieta has to be close to the top of the world’s great art. And the museum has a fascinating collection, which isn’t surprising, given how long the Catholic Church has been around to collect it. 🙂 –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
We thoroughly enjoyed our last visit to St. Peter’s — the architecture, statuary, icons, etc. It just gets better each time. Also, I think we appreciate the work that went in to the building of this place even more. Thanks for posting.
Curt Mekemson
Of course Rusha. Peggy and I are now at Arches National Park, which I believe you really enjoyed as well. –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
You are so right!!! And I’ll never forget the total stranger who attached his ver powerful, long lens to my camera so I could get a closer photo of that famous arch. Still grateful!
Curt Mekemson
How neat! We spent 6 hours in the park yesterday and by the time we got to Delicate Arch, we were too tired to walk all of the way up, plus the temperature was in the upper 90s. So we hiked to the .5 mile trip up to the viewing point and Peggy used her telephoto lens! –Curt
Oh, the Places We See
That’s what we did!!! And it was just fine.
Curt Mekemson
Indeed, I could easily do a week there.
Arati
The richness of the marble in the Pieta is out of this world. I am always in awe when I see this sculpture.
Curt Mekemson
I’m in total agreement, Arati. –Curt