Cathedrals of Italy

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Map of Italy

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome
UNESCO World heritage Site

In Catholic tradition, the basilica is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. It is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic sites. As a work of architecture, it is regarded as the greatest building of its age. Pope Benedict XVI is the present Pope.

The Basilica was completed in 1626 with a length of 220 m, 150 m width, height of 136.57 m and a Dome diameter (outer) of 42 m, one of the largest domes in the world. It covers an area of 5.7 acres.

The entire interior is lavishly decorated with marble, reliefs, architectural sculpture and gilding. The basilica contains a large number of tombs of popes and other notable people, many of which are considered outstanding artworks.

Big Bell (Campanone) is founded by Luigi Valadier in 1795. It weighs 8950 kg and having a diameter of 2.316 m. The note of this bell is E0+3. The Basilica has 6 bells.





Michelangelo's Pieta



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Beatification Ceremony of John Paul II video

Rome city tours, Italy Video

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Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio and others.

One of the primary functions of the Sistine Chapel is as a venue for the election of each successive pope in a conclave of the College of Cardinals. On the occasion of a conclave, a chimney is installed in the roof of the chapel, from which smoke arises as a signal. If white smoke appears, created by burning the ballots of the election, a new Pope has been elected. If a candidate receives less than a two-thirds majority, the cardinals send up black smoke—created by burning the ballots along with wet straw and chemical additives—it means that no successful election has yet occurred.

Creation of Adam by Michelangelo



Last Supper by Michelangelo

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Milan cathedral

The cathedral is 157 m in length, 92 m in width, dome height outer 65.5 m, Spire height of 106.5 m. The interior of the cathedral includes numerous monuments and artworks. These include:

The sarcophagi of the archbishops, The three magnificent altars, St. Bartholomew statue, two large organs, a fifteenth-century statue of Martin V, The 5-manual, 225-rank pipe-organ is the largest oragan in Italy.

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Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
UNESCO World heritage Site

The church, completed in 1498 AD, has last supper painting by Leonardo da Vinci (15 ft x 29 ft). Video

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Santa Sindone chapel

Located 125 km from Milan, at Turin, Italy.

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Orvieto Cathedral

The 14th century cathedral is in Umbria. The cathedral’s facade is a classic piece of religious construction with a large rose window, golden mosaics and three huge bronze doors, large stained-glass quadrifore window, while inside resides two frescoed chapels (Chapel of the Corporal) decorated by some of the best Italian painters of the period with images of Judgement Day.

The frame of the rose window holds 52 carved heads, while the center of the rose window holds a carved head of the Christ. The cathedral's large organ has 5,585 pipes.



Central Rose window in close up

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Viterbo Cathedral of St. Lorenzo, 80 km north of Rome.

Cathedral of St. Lorenzo was built in 12th century sits high on the hill with the attached Papal palace overlooking the town spread below. 33 windows, Pope john Paul XXI's tombstone etc are the main attractions.

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Pisa Cathedral & Leaning tower

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Pulpit

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Pavia Cathedral

The cathedral houses the remains of St Sirus, first bishop of Pavia. Inside, note the paintings and pulpit reliefs. In the entrance is the "Adoration of the Magi", by Daniele Crespi. The cathedral was begun in 1488 to 1898. The church is on the Greek Cross plan: it therefore has the same length and width at the transept (84 m). The central dome, with an octagonal plan, is 97 m tall (fourth place), with a total weight of some 20,000 tons.

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Florence Cathedral

The cathedral has a length 153 m, width 38 m, height of the arches in the aisles is 23 m, height from pavement to the opening of the lantern in the dome is also 90 metre. Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery are excessively decorated.

The dome is 60 cm thick at the base and 30 cm thick at the top. Brunelleschi, the architect of the dome, devised lifts for building materials (37 kt). The dome interior has painting by World famous painters.