There is no place in the world richer in art and history than Rome and St. Peter's Square is probably, along with the Colosseum, the most famous symbol of the eternal city. Staying in a holiday home near the St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums is therefore the best way to find yourself in the atmosphere of this majestic, immortal and evocative city.
St. Peter's Square and the famous basilica are located right where Apostle Peter (the first pope of the Christian religion) martyred and where he was burried according to tradition. But the square and the church has not always had the majestic and imposing look they have now, and it was Pope Julius II to decide, in the first years of the sixteenth century, to build the Basilica with its famous dome (an idea of Bramante and Michelangelo) that stands out in the skyline making the eternal city of Rome one of the most beautiful and famous cities in the world.
In 1656 Bernini was to design the spectacular colonnade that "embraces" faithful and tourists from all over the globe. He has as well designed 162 statues of saints, each corresponding to a column, exactly half as large as the sculptures on the facade of the basilica where the twelve apostles with Jesus (the cross is also geometrically corresponding to both the dome - behind him - that obelisk - in front of him) are represented.
The columns of St. Peter's Square are one of the finest examples of Italian baroque, but at the same time represent a reinterpretation by Bernini of classical architecture, such as the Colosseum, which definetely inspired the master. The provision starts from the center and the oval shape of the square stand for the idea of infinity which Bernini wanted to represent with the construction of the colonnade.
