Page 103 - Cork & Tee Sample Program Flipbook, 2018

Founded by Pope Julius II in the early sixteenth century and enlarged by successive pontiffs, the
museums are housed in what is known collectively as the Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano. This
massive, 13.5-acre complex consists of
two palaces—the Vatican palace nearest
St. Peter’s and the Belvedere Palace—
joined by two long galleries. On the
inside are three courtyards: the Cortile
della Pigna, the Cortile della Biblioteca
and, to the south, the Cortile del
Belvedere. Each gallery contains
priceless treasures, but for a whistle-stop
tour, we suggest the Pinacoteca, the
Museo Pio-Clementino, Galleria delle
Carte Geografiche, Stanze di Raffaello
(Raphael Rooms) and the Sistine Chapel.
Some clients prefer simply to focus on the Raphael Rooms, which are stunning. Your guide will
tailor the visit accordingly, as one could spend several days in the museums alone. Admission to
the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums is included.

Finish with Basilico San Pietro. We have
visited many of the most noteworthy
cathedrals and churches in the world, and St.
Peter’s never fails to take our breath away
with its enchanting beauty and grandeur.
Michelangelo’s dome, the largest such dome
in the world, itself is awe inspiring. The
opulence of the interior bears testimony to
the wealth of the Catholic Church in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is
decorated with large monuments, many of
which were created by Bernini, the great
Baroque designer.

The basilica was built over a span of 100 years in the sixteenth century. It was constructed on
the site of a former church, which originally was commissioned by the Emperor Constantine and
completed in 349 AD. The location is highly symbolic; this is where St. Peter died a martyr and
was buried in 64 AD. The greatest architects of several generations participated in the massive
undertaking, including Michelangelo, who was appointed chief architect at the age of 72. The
dome he designed finally was completed in 1590, 26 years after his death. The vast basilica,
featuring enough surface area to fit 60,000 people under one roof, remains an inspirational

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