Piazza San Pietro

Probably the best view in Rome, the view of St. Peter's Square from the top of the Basilica dome. Bernini designed and supervised the building of St. Peter's Square between 1656 and 1667.

There are two parts of the trip up to the top of the dome. First, you take an elevator to the mid-level of the dome. From there, if you want to get to the cupola and this view, you have to climb some stairs.

"Climb some stairs" is an understatement. I am from a country where people sue to get wider movie theater seats because they have grown too fat for normal seats. A country where everything is built to be accessible for everybody, no matter how tall, short, thin, or thick. Coming from that perspective, the stairs of St. Peter's dome were something of a shock. Stuffy, sweaty, and incredibly claustrophobic, they spiral up the space between the exterior and interior dome walls, just wide enough for a medium-sized person to fit. The walk takes 15 or 20 minutes and must be brutal in the summertime, but this view is worth it.

LENS: 28-70 at ~50mm | FILM: Fuji Provia 100F | EXPOSURE: f/8 at 1/?" | DATE: 10/03

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