The Unique Views of St. Peter’s Dome

Among many things that I am obsessed with in Rome is the magnificent Dome of the St. Peter's Basilica. To me, this architectural masterpiece designed by the Italian artist Michelangelo is a symbol of perfection. The greatest thing about the Dome is that it is a sight of illusion, which is beautiful from every angle.

The Magical View

The Dome of St. Peter's Basilica first caught my attention when I saw it through the Aventine Keyhole, a tiny keyhole on a villa door in the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. The moment I saw the Dome perfectly positioned within the garden behind the door, I thought I was looking at a fairy-tale scene. The beauty of the Dome must have inspired the architect of the Villa del Priorato di Malta. To get a good view of the Dome, make sure to visit on a sunny day.

The Up-close View

The closest view of the Dome you can get is by climbing up the 491 stairs to the top of the St. Peter's Basilica (You can use an elevator for a part of the climbing by paying more). As soon as I got out of the elevator and turned my back around, I was totally overwhelmed by the majestic Dome. It could not have been real! It was beyond perfection! Another amazing thing about climbing up there was that I had a chance to examine in detail the intricate interior design of the Dome.

The Exclusive View

During my private tour with Joanne Bergamin in the Vatican's Gardens, I caught various glimpses of the Dome. That time it felt different watching the masterpiece. It felt as if I had entered an exclusive world. The views I saw were the ones that the Pope himself would see while walking in his gardens.

The Sunset View

Rome has always been famous with its theatrical sunset. I would argue that one of the most spectacular sunsets in Rome is with the St.Peter's Dome in the foreground. My discovery of this view was totally by chance. While walking along river Tiber during sunset time, I saw a group of photographers on Ponte Umberto I, and decided to join them. What I saw was mesmerizing.

The Artistic View

The way the St.Peter's Dome is framed within the architectural detail of Castel Sant'Angelo is one of a kind. If you are a keen photographer, I am sure a visit to Castel Sant'Angelo will fulfill your creative desire to capture the best of Rome. And to be specific, the unique angles of the Dome.

The Illusion View

Finally, the most interesting view of the Dome is probably the one from Via Niccolò Piccolomini. From my apartment to the Vatican, I usually took the bus 982 (Direction: XVII Olimpiade). The bus went through Via Niccolò Piccolomini, where the magic happened. At the beginning of the road, the Dome looked extremely big. But as we got closer to the Dome, towards the end of the road, the Dome got smaller and smaller. It literally shrunk before my eyes. *How could it be possible?*

My mission is to show you different ways of exploring Rome - the ways that the average tourist may miss. Each moment of unraveling something new about Rome made me fall in love with the city more and more. Those are the precious moments that I would like to share with you. If you are eager to find out more, check out these articles: The Hidden Beauty Of Rome, Exploring Monteverde Vecchio In Rome, A Taste of Asia in Rome. I hope these unique experiences will enrich your visit in Rome.