Illustration - Aerial Rome - Italy

Illustration - Aerial Rome - Italy

ITALY - ROMA - VATICAN - INTERIOR OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA - PHOTO 16 : IN THE CENTER OF THE TRANSEPT, THE BALDAQUIN (WHICH OVERCOMES THE MAIN ALTAR), DIRECTED BY BERNINI. THIS 60-TON, 29-METER TALL GILT BRONZE PIECE IS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST BRONZE STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD. FOR ITS REALIZATION, BUT ALSO TO SINK THE ARTILLERY OF THE CASTEL SANT'ANGELO, POPE URBAN VIII HAD THE BRONZE TAK Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial Rome - Italy

Illustration - Aerial Rome - Italy

ITALY - ROMA - VATICAN - INTERIOR OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA - PHOTO POINT 14 : IN THE CENTER OF THE TRANSEPT, THE BALDAQUIN (WHICH OVERCOMES THE HIGH ALTAR), DIRECTED BY BERNINI. THIS 60-TON, 29-METER TALL GILT BRONZE PIECE IS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST BRONZE STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD. FOR ITS REALIZATION, BUT ALSO TO SINK THE ARTILLERY OF THE CASTEL SANT'ANGELO, POPE URBAN VIII HAD THE BRONZE TAKEN FROM THE PORTICO OF THE PANTHEON OF ROME (1ST CENTURY BC). UNDER THE BALDACHIN, THE PAPAL HIGH ALTAR. SINCE 1594, A MARBLE BLOCK FROM ANCIENT ROME SERVES AS ALTAR TO THE BASILICA. A DOUBLE STAIRCASE DESCENDS TO THE CRYPT, BUILT EXACTLY IN LINE WITH THE TOMB OF ST. PETER, ADORNED WITH A MEDIEVAL MOSAIC OF CHRIST. A MEDIEVAL MOSAIC OF CHRIST. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial Rome - Italy

Illustration - Aerial Rome - Italy

ITALY - ROMA - VATICAN - INTERIOR OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA - POINT PHOTO 14 : IN THE CENTER OF THE TRANSEPT, THE BALDAQUIN, WHICH SURMOUNTS THE HIGH ALTAR, DIRECTED BY BERNINI. THIS 60-TON, 29-METER TALL GILT BRONZE PIECE IS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST BRONZE STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD. AT THE TOP OF THE STRUCTURE, CURVED PIECES SUPPORTING A CANOPY FALLING IN THE MANNER OF BROCADES. HERE, THE DRAPE OF THE CANOPY IS IN BRONZE, AND ALL THE DETAILS, INCLUDING THE OLIVE BRANCHES, THE BEES, AND THE PORTRAITS OF THE NIECE OF POPE URBAN AND HIS NEWBORN SON, ARE TAKEN FROM THE SHEET OF GOLD PAPER. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM