St. Peter's Basilica

What can you say - it's the largest Christian church in the world.  It has over 50 altars, 450 statues, 500 columns, and can hold up to 60,000 people.  This is another place where there is so much to see that there is no way you can take it all in - we came here twice trying to see as much of it as possible.  The cover over the main altar (called a baldaquin) is made from bronze taken from the Pantheon when it was given over to the church for protection.  Only the Pope is allowed to say mass from this altar.  The large statue behind this is called St. Peter's Chair (by Bernini) - it is said to contain relics of a chair St. Peter himself used.  The statue of St. Peter is touched or kissed by many that pass by - usually on his foot!  The dome you see below is one of the lesser domes, but still beautiful.  We would highly recommend seeing this if you are in Rome for only a short time - it's definitely a highlight!