On your trip to Rome, you must visit one of the top attractions in the Eternal City: The Vatican. The smallest country in the world, the center of Catholicism, home of the Sistine Chapel and the biggest church in the world, visiting the Vatican is a must-do if you’re traveling to Rome.
When I first stepped into Piazza San Pietro, I stopped breathing. This square in the Vatican is so majestic, that its grandeur leaves you speechless. Even with the thousands of people lining up in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica, there’s a special energy in this square that despite all the hustle, somehow gives you peace. The square itself is a work of art and hides a few interesting secrets.
Saint Peter and the Vatican
The square and the Basilica are both named after Saint Peter. According to Catholic belief, Saint Peter was one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ, and the first Pope. After the crucifixion and resurrection, Saint Peter was instructed by Jesus to take care of his church. He had to escape from Jerusalem as he was targeted to be executed, and he eventually came to Rome, where he became the first Pope, and as instructed, founded the church.
While Saint Peter was a Bishop between the years 30 and 64 AD, in the year 54 Nero became the Emperor of Rome. Nero who? Well, the same Nero who was ruling when the Great Fire of Rome took place, and who was even blamed by some for burning the Eternal City to the ground. No one really knows who started the fire, but Nero blamed the Christians and sentenced Saint Peter to death. The execution took place in what was then known as the Circus of Nero, where St. Peter was crucified upside-down because he believed he wasn’t worthy to die in the same posture as Jesus. The Circus of Nero no longer exists, because, on top of it, St. Peter’s Basilica and Saint Peter’s Square were built.
However, there is one thing still standing from those times, the one “mute witness” that was there when all of this happened. The Egyptian Obelisk which is now in the center of the square, is the only thing that still stands since those times, and it is known as the “mute witness” because it was also present when Saint Peter was executed.
The obelisk in Saint Peter’s Square was brought to Rome from Egypt, and placed in the Circus of Nero in the year 37. It used to have a gilt ball on top, that was believed to contain Julius Caesar’s ashes. However, when the obelisk was moved to its present position, it was confirmed that the ball was solid and contained no ashes. That ball or “orb” can be now seen at the Capitoline Museums in Rome.
Saint Peter's tomb
But what about Saint Peter’s tomb? The remains of Saint Peter are in the necropolis underneath Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Not be confused with the crypt. There is a special tour, called the SCAVI tour you can book to see the necropolis and the tomb of the Apostle Peter. You can book the Scavi tour here: http://www.scavi.va/content/scavi/en.html
Saint Peter's Square - a must-see attraction when traveling to Rome
Piazza Saint Peter as you see it now was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, in the 17th century. If you take a look at the floor of the piazza around the obelisk, you will notice a compass rose and a meridian. The obelisk’s shadow covers the zodiac signs at noon, and the summer and winter solstices when the shadow marks the discs on the sides. It’s an interesting phenomenon you can witness while visiting the square.
How to see the columns in Piazza San Pietro aligned
The columns in Piazza San Pietro are one of the most impressive features of the square. There are 284 columns and 88 pilasters arranged in a colonnade of four rows. Above the columns, you will see 140 statues of saints created by the disciples of Bernini.
There are two spots in the square from which you can see all the columns perfectly aligned. Find the white spots saying “Centro del Colonnato”, stand on them, and watch half of the columns disappear!
How to Find the Heart Of Nero
While exploring Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican, you will see people searching for a particular cobblestone. There is a special one shaped like a heart, and it is known to the Romans as “The Heart of Nero”.
There are a few legends regarding this heart. Some say it is the heart of Roman Emperor Nero, responsible for the death of Saint Peter, who has re-emerged from the grave, like a curse on the church. Others say it is the work of Bernini, as a symbol of lost love, or the work of Michelangelo, as a symbol of a broken heart.
In our video about Rome’s top attractions you’ll find out how to find Nero’s heart and more fun facts about the Vatican and Rome:
