If you think of St. Peter's Square as a clock, we joined the queue at #9. You can see the queue circling the colonnade, moving very slowly because of the scanning machines at the entrance.
We are at about #6 now, directly in front of the basilica. Once we got to about #2, people unwilling to wait their turn started pushing into the queue. There was lots of yelling - including me - but they still unashamedly pushed in.
All the following internal photos are courtesy of Paul who had not messed up his camera settings, as I had. The haze here in the main naive was caused by the afternoon sun catching particulants from the incense that was being used in one of the chapels.
Michelangelo's 'Pieta' is the only life-size creation in the basilica, which is probably what makes it so powerful. Just glorious.
St. Peter's is a late Renaissance building with the most beautiful statuary. The overall colouring of the marble in the church is various shades of white and warm grey, highlighted with dark pinks.
All of the popes are buried here. Paul reminded me that John Paul I, who died mysteriously in 1978 within a year of his election, was portrayed in 'The Godfather III' as Michael Corleone's confessor, and may have been poisoned.
In death, some of the popes were more ostentatious than others. Pope Innocent XIII was one of them.
A magnificent pulpit and very high.
The main cupola in the transept.
The main alter in the transept. This part of the basilica is richly decorated but overall, I find the church to be quite subtle when compared to many of its glitzy sisters.
Looking back down the naive from the alter towards the front door, catching the warm afternoon light through the rear cupola.
The lock on the inside of the main, beaten metal door.
The Pope's eye view of St. Peter's Square - well, it would be if he exited by the front door.
It's a pity these Swiss Guards weren't there to help us out with the queue jumpers at the entry. Seems guarding the exit is more important.
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