Rome & Lazio - Italy - page 215

known as the Loggia della Benedizione , and it's from here that the pope delivers his Urbi et
Orbi blessing at Christmas and Easter.
QUEUE JUMPING AT THE VATICAN MUSEUMS
Here's how to jump the ticket queue - although we can't help with lines for the security checks.
» Book tickets online ( http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do) . On payment, you'll re-
ceive email confirmation that you should print and present, along with valid ID, at the museum en-
trance. Note that tickets bought online incur a €4 booking fee. You can also book guided tours (adult/
reduced €32/24) online.
» Time your visit: Tuesday and Thursday are the quietest days. Wednesday morning is also good as
everyone is at the pope's weekly audience. Afternoons are better than mornings. Avoid Monday when
many other museums are shut.
» Book a tour with a reputable guide.
INTERIOR
The cavernous 187m-long interior covers more than 15,000 sq metres and contains many
spectacular works of art, including Michelangelo's hauntingly beautiful Pietà at the head
of the right nave. Sculpted when he was only 25, it is the only work he ever signed - his
signature is etched into the sash across the Madonna's breast.
Nearby, the red disc just inside the main door marks the spot where Charlemagne and
later Holy Roman Emperors were crowned by the pope.
Dominating the centre of the basilica is Bernini's 29m-high baldachin . Supported by
four spiral columns and made with bronze taken from the Pantheon, it stands over the
high altar, which itself sits on the site of St Peter's grave. The pope is the only priest per-
mitted to serve at the high altar.
Above, Michelangelo's dome soars to a height of 119m. Based on Brunelleschi's design
for the Duomo in Florence, the towering cupola is supported by four solid stone piers,
named after the saints whose statues adorn the Bernini-designed niches - Longinus,
Helena, Veronica and Andrew.
At the base of the Pier of St Longinus, to the right as you face the high altar, is a bronze
statue of St Peter , believed to be a 13th-century work by Arnolfo di Cambio. It's a much-
loved piece and its right foot has been worn down by centuries of kisses and caresses.