Spherical vault and rib system in brick; metal armature; travertine

Dome:

• Michelangelo Buonarroti; Giacomo della Porta; Domenico Fontana

Globe and Cross:

• Bastiano Torreggiano

1546-1593

Dome:

• Internal height, from pavement to lantern vault: 117.57 m

• External height, from street level to summit of Cross: 133.30 m

• External diametre: 58.90 m

• Internal Diametre: 41.50 m

• Total weight: 14000 t

• Number of steps up to summit of Dome: 537

Globe:

• Diametre: 2.50 m

• Circumfrance: 7.88 m

• Weight: 1862 kg

Cross:

• Height: 3.33 m

• Arm width: 2.40 m

• Weight: 288.15 kg

St. Peter’s Basilica. Intersection of main nave and transept

    St. Peter’s Dome, the symbol of St. Peter's Basilica, is located at the intersection of the nave and the transept. The structure was designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti in 1546, during the pontificate of Paul III (1534-1549); the construction was halted when the artist died in 1564, at the height of the drum. Construction resumed under Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) who commissioned Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana. In May 1590 they completed the vault, and November 18, 1593 the giant lantern in gilded bronze on summit of the dome. The lantern consist of a globe surmounted by a Cross, the work of Sebastiano Torregiano .

    The dome has a double vault, the inner vault is functional and gives the structure support, while the outer vault is coated lead plates and acts as protection for the first. A corridor between the two vaults permits access to the top of the dome. A triple row of dormers windows topped by pediments means the corridor is naturally lit.

The lantern, however, takes up the theme of the double columns visible in the buttresses.

    In 1809, under the direction of Bishop Luigi Filippo Gilj a lightning rod was installed on the dome.

Proyects