The Hidden History of St Peter's Basilica

Summary by Krater

This video explores how St. Peter's Basilica was built on top of ancient Roman ruins and incorporates materials from the Circus of Nero and other ancient monuments.

From the video

Answers: What ancient Roman ruins and history are hidden beneath St. Peter's Basilica?

• Architecture of St. Peter's Basilica
• Ancient Roman ruins in Vatican City
• The Vatican Obelisk
• The Circus of Nero
• Old St. Peter's Basilica
• Renaissance architecture in Rome
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Baldachino

What it concludes

• St. Peter's Basilica was built on the remains of early Christianity's greatest church and materials taken from dozens of Roman ruins.
• The obelisk in the center of St. Peter's Square originally stood in Alexandria before being brought to Rome by Caligula.
• The Vatican Obelisk stands 84 feet tall and weighs over 300 tons.
• The St. Peter's baptismal font is made of an Egyptian porphyry lid taken from Hadrian's Mausoleum.
• Bernini's Baldachino is the largest cast bronze structure ever created, weighing 80,000 pounds.