Lazio / Latium

St. Peter's Square is of course part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. But with an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world . and so I merge it into Rome and Italy. St. Peter's Square, seen from the doorsteps of St. Peter's Basilica, is already well prepared for the Christmas celebrations.

Early sunset in winter - St. Peter's Basilica in late daylight. St. Peter's Basilica is of course part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. But with an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world and so I merge it into Rome and Italy. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. It is one of the largest churches worldwide . Seen in the center of the "St. Peter's Square" is the Vatican Obelisk, that was originally taken by Caligula from Heliopolis in Egypt. Next to the obelisk is a christmas tree and a large crib.

St. Peter's Basilica is part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. But with an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world and so I merge it into Rome and Italy. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. It is one of the largest churches worldwide .

St. Peter's Basilica is part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. It is one of the largest churches worldwide . The Pope had open the "Holy door" ("Porta Sancta") in early December 2016, marking the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. And so now anybody entered St. Peter's Basilica through the small "Holy door" (..and I could never take a photo without people passing through..).

St. Peter's Basilica is part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. It is one of the largest churches worldwide . The Pope had open the "Holy door" ("Porta Sancta") in early December 2016, marking the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. And so now anybody entered St. Peter's Basilica through the small "Holy door" (..and I could never take a photo without people passing through..).

St. Peter's Basilica is part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. With a capacity of 20,000, it is one of the largest churches worldwide. The interior dimensions of St. Peter's Basilica are just breathtaking

St. Peter's Basilica is part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. With a capacity of 20,000, it is one of the largest churches worldwide. The interior dimensions of St. Peter's Basilica are just breathtaking.

St. Peter's Basilica is part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. With a capacity of 20,000, it is one of the largest churches worldwide. The interior dimensions of St. Peter's Basilica are just breathtaking.

Swiss mercenary regiments have served as regular line troops in various armies over centuries. They were known for for discipline and loyalty - and had a reputation to be very effective. Francis I of France had about 100.000 swiss mercenaries on his payroll. The Pontifical Swiss Guard was founded in 1506. It is one of the oldest military units in the world. Recruits to the Swiss Guard must be Catholic, single males with Swiss citizenship. We were on our way to the St. Peter's Square that morning to join the large crowd on the square. In about two hours the Pope would enter the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica and give the "Urbi et Orbi" address and blessing.

A large crowd had gathered on St. Peter's Square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. In about two hours the Pope would enter the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica and give the "Urbi et Orbi" address and blessing. The atmoshpere was relaxed and reminded me on a music festival. There was even an opening act, when different colourful uniformed troops, groups and bands paraded the square and took place in front of the Basilica.

A large crowd had gathered on St. Peter's Square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. In about two hours the Pope would enter the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica and give the "Urbi et Orbi" address and blessing. The atmoshpere was relaxed and reminded me on a music festival. The Pontifical Swiss Guard in shining armour took place on the left side in front of Basilica.

A large crowd had gathered on St. Peter's Square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. In about two hours the Pope would enter the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica and give the "Urbi et Orbi" address and blessing. The atmoshpere was relaxed and reminded me on a music festival. The Pontifical Swiss Guard in shining armour were already on the left side in front of Basilica (previous upload), while in the right side different branches of the armed forces took position. These branches were probably Italian, the State of Vatican does not maintain maritime and ground forces (any more).

A large crowd had gathered on St. Peter's Square. After the Pontifical Swiss Guard and different branches of the Italian armed forces had taken position in front of St. Peter´s Basilica, Pope Francis entered the central loggia.

Looking back. St. Peter's Square was still packed with people even after Pope France had left the loggia after the "Urbi et Orbi" and returned to his private rooms. Probably to enjoy Christmas dinner.

Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches of Rome. Legends have it that Pope Callixtus I (217-222) had the church built and that it got remodelled later a couple of times. Pope Innocent II (1130-1143) had it rebuilt on its old foundations. Since then It has the present form with three naves, lintelled columns, apse and transept, created largely by materials gleaned from the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla. The campanile is from the 12th century. The mosaics on the facade, clearly influenced by Byzantine works, are believed to be created end of the 12th century. They got retouched during a 19th century restauration.

Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches of Rome. Legends have it that Pope Callixtus I (217-222) had the church built and that it got remodelled later a couple of times. Pope Innocent II (1130-1143) had it rebuilt on its old foundations. Since then It has the present form with three naves, lintelled columns, apse and transept, created largely by materials gleaned from the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla. The mosaic on the facade is clearly influenced by Byzantine works. The masters here surely knew the older mosaics from Ravenna. The mosaics are believed to be created end of the 12th century. They got retouched during a 19th century restauration.

Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches of Rome. Legends have it that Pope Callixtus I (217-222) had the church built and that it got remodelled later a couple of times. Pope Innocent II (1130-1143) had it rebuilt on its old foundations. Since then It has the present form with three naves, lintelled columns, apse and transept, created largely by materials gleaned from the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla. The walls of the narthex are tiled with spolia.

Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches of Rome. Legends have it that Pope Callixtus I (217-222) had the church built and that it got remodelled later a couple of times. Pope Innocent II (1130-1143) had it rebuilt on its old foundations. Since then It has the present form with three naves, lintelled columns, apse and transept, created largely by materials gleaned from the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla. The walls of the nartzhex are tiled with spolia. Here are some of spolia. The birds drinking from a chalice, but the barrel and the ship are clearly ancient graffiti.