Travertine

Carlo Maderno

1607 – 1614 facade

1612 – 1614 statues

Facade:

• Height: 45.50 m (without statutes)

• Width: 116 m

Columns:

• Height: 27.48 m

• Circumferance: 8.70 m

• Diametre: 2.77 m

Pediment:

• Height: 7.50 m

• Length: 30.00 m

Statues:

• Apostoles and St. John the Baptist: 5.65 m

• The Redeemer: 6 m

Arms:

• Height: 6 m

St. Peter’s Basilica

The façade was designed by Carlo Maderno, who worked on it from 1607 to 1614. I was commissioned by Pope Paul V (1605-1621) , to whom the inscription on the cornice is dedictaed. The first stone was laid on 11 February 1608.
The prospectus, punctuated by columns and pilasters with Corinthian capitals, is divided into several orders: the lower order presents the five entrances to the atrium, while in the upper order there are five balconies, decorated with small columns , balustrades, pediments and brackets , interrupted by four smaller niches. An attic is visible at the southern end which houses the belfry above the entablature, surmounted by a pediment with the coat of arms.
There are rectangular windows above the entrances. The central window is instead replaced by instead a high-relief sculpture of the consignment of the keys.
Two clocks are visible on the balustrade and statues with the eleven Apostles, St. John the Baptist and the imposing central figure of Christ the Redeemer ; these , together with the high relief of the keys are the work of the sculptor Ambrogio Buonvicino of Milan (1557-1622) .
After 1667, Gian Lorenzo Bernini modified the facade. The steps in front of the church, which previously had been as wide as the entire façade, were reduced to the width of the central elements .
The facade was fully restored for the Jubilee in 2000.

Video con fuochi d’artificio in occasione del Giubileo; Progetti costruzione (disegni)