Canopy of St. Peter

The Baldacchino of St. Peter, created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1624 and 1633, is one of the most famous and imposing works of Roman Baroque. Located in the center of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, above the main altar and the burial place of the apostle Peter, the baldacchino is a masterpiece of sculpture and architecture, symbolizing the power and grandeur of the Catholic Church. The structure, standing about 30 meters high, is made of bronze and decorated with gilding, and is supported by four twisted columns, richly adorned with acanthus leaves, cherubs, and papal symbols. The columns, inspired by those of Solomon’s Temple described in the Bible, give the baldacchino a monumental and solemn appearance, dominating the entire basilica. The top of the baldacchino features an elaborate dome canopy, decorated with papal symbols and angelic figures, which appears to be suspended in mid-air thanks to Bernini’s ingenious design. The baldacchino is topped with a golden cross, symbolizing the Christian faith and the universal mission of the Church. An interesting anecdote concerns the material used for the construction of the baldacchino. It is said that the bronze needed for the work was taken from the Pantheon, an ancient Roman temple converted into a church, causing quite a controversy at the time. This episode became famous with the phrase “Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini,” referring to Pope Urban VIII Barberini, who commissioned the work.