Such a building as St. Peter's, carried on under many different architects for a period of more than a century, must have faults and incongruities. The portico in front, the approach to which is formed by the beautiful colonnades of Bernini, which conceal the buildings on each side of the piazza, is mostly objected to, as spoiling the view of the church itself. But St Peter's as a whole may be safely said to be the most magnificent structure raised by man. Its interior well corresponds with its external appearance : the proportions are so well kept, that the eye, at first, is not struck with the vastness of the edifice until some of the parts are examined separately. For a description of the structure itself, and its gorgeous ornameuta in marble, bronze, stucco, and gold, its altars, chapels, painting; mosaics, sculptures, and numerous sepulchral monuments, we must refer the reader to guide books, and to professional works on the subject : here we can only state the dimensions of this vast structure. The total length of the interior within the walla is 602 feet; length of transept 445 feet; the nave increases from 77 feet at the entrance to S9 and is 150 feet high ; the aisles are 21 feet wide and 47 feet in height The height of the baldachin; or canopy over the high altar (which is immediately under the dome), to the top of the cross is 93 feet The four great pillars on which the dome rests are 232 feet in circumference. The diameter of the cupola is 193 feet. The base of the lantern of the dome is 400 feet, and the top of the cross 430 feet above the pavement The high altar stands immediately over the grave of St Peter.
The assemblage of buildings called by the name of the Vatican, and which extends in an oblong irregular masa north of St Peter's as far as the town walls, consists mainly of—], the Papal palace; 2, the court and garden of Belvedere; 3, the library ; 4, the museum. The Papal palace contains, among other remarkable objects, the Sistine and Pauline chapels, painted by Michel Angelo : the Sistine chapel contains the painting of the Last Judgment; the four ' stanze,' or apartments, paloted by Raffaelle ; and the ' logge,' or open galleries, painted by Raffaelle'e pupils under his direction. The principal stair caae, made by Bernini, is a splendid work of art.. The Vatican is said to contain altogether eight great staircases, more than twenty courts, twelve great halls, and several thousand apartments large and small. A corridor, about a thousand feet long, joins the Papal palace to the building called Belvedere, which serves as a museum. About half-way up this corridor is the entrance to the Vatican library, which was built by the architect Fontana under Sixtus V. Pope Nicholas V. was the founder of the Vatican library, which has been increased by many pope.. It now contains about 100,000 printed volumes and 24,000 manuscripts, of which 5000 are in Greek, 16,000 in Latin, and 3000 in the oriental languages.
The museum, or collection of works of art, mostly of ancient sculls tare, was begun by Clement XIIL and Clement XIV., and greatly increased by Pius VI. Pins VIL began a new collection, to which has been given the name of Muaeo Chiaramtmti. The two together, which are distributed along the court, garden, and palace of Belvedere, constitute the richest museum in Europe. Another and mere exten else garden belonging to the Pope is annexed to the Vatican palace, and extends along the brow of the hilt The other remarkable building in the Borgo is the great charitable establishment of Santo Spirito, the largest in Rome, situated close to the right bank of the Tiber. It comprises an hospital for the nick, which in the summer months contains from 1000 to 1200 patients at a time, a foundling hospital, and a lunatic asylum.
The castle of Sant'-Angelo (of which the massive circular tower was built by Hadrian for his mausoleum, and the fortifications around it, consisting of ramparts, ditches, and bastions mounted with cannon, were begun by Pope Boniface IX. and continued by successive popes)
is the citadel of Rome, but it is not capable of a regular defence. It serves as a state prison and also as a house of correction.
The district called Trastevere lies south of the Borgo and between the Janicultim and the Tiber, and tx)mmunicatee with the Borgo by the handsome gate of Santo Spirito. The Janiculum is a long straight ridge about a mile and a half long from north to south, cod it rises nearly 300 feet above the level of the river. In the northern half of its length It rises almost immediately from the bank of the Tiber, leaving however sufficient level ground for a street, which from its length is called La Lungara. This street contains some fine buildings, the Palazzo Salviati, the Palazzo Corsini, one of the handsomest in Rome, once the residence of Christina of Sweden, with a gallery of paintings, a library, and delightful gardena, which extend up the slope of the Jaoiculum, and from which there is a splendid view of Rome; and lastly, La Farnesin; a house and gardens built by the wealthy banker Ghigi in the time of Leo X., with some fine frescoes by RaphaeL On the slope of the Janiculum is the Villa Laute, the casino of which was painted by Giulio Romano. The church and convent of San Onofrio, likewise on the Janiculum, above La Ltuigara, is worthy of notice, as having been the last asylum of Taste', where he died and was buried.
Towards the southern end of tho Lucgara the bill recedes farther from the banks of the river, which here makes a bend to the east, and it is within this bend that the great bulk of the district called Tress tevere is situated. Some of the streets run up the Janiculum to the gate of San Pancrazio, but the higher part of the hill is chiefly unbuilt, though it is inclosed within the walls. The villa Spada is in this part, near the gate, outside of which is the villa Pamfili, a favourite promenade of the youth of Rome, with shady walks, water-works, and clusters of lofty umbrella pines. Among the most remarkable build ings of Trastevere is the church of San Pietro in Montorio, which covers the spot on which St. Peter was crucified, and contains some fine paintings. Above San Pietro in Montorio, in a commanding situation, is the fountain of L'Acqua Paola, the largest in Rome, which appears at a distance like a triple triumphal arch with streams of water rushing through : it was constructed by Paul V. with the marble taken from a temple of Minerva. Lower down, at the foot of the hill, is the collegiate church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, a vast and handsome structure, with granite and porphyry columns, rich marbles, some good paintings, and an old mosaic of the 12th century. Near to it is the fine Benedictine convent of San Calisto, in the library of which is a splendid illuminated Latin Bible of the 9th century. A long street leads from San Calisto to the church and convent of San Francesco a Rips, once inhabited by St-Francis of Assist The church is ornamented with paintings, sculpture; and rich marbles, and has a chapel with vaults belonging to the Pa]lavicini family. Not far from San Francesco is the large building of San Michele a Rips, near tho Tiber, facing the Aventine Hill, which rises on the opposite bank. San Michele is one of the most useful and best conducted charitable establishments of Rome, and is inhabited by above 700 persons. It consists of a workhouse, or house of industry for poor boys and girls, of a school of the fine arts for those boys who have a taste for them, of an asylum for the old and infirm of both sexes, and of a house of correction for juvenile offenders. Along one side of this vast building is the handsome quay and landing-place of Ripe Grande, where vessels which ascend the Tiber from the sea land their goods, and annexed to which are warehouses. Below it is the Porta Porteee, or gate leading to Fiumicino. which is the southern extremity of Rome on the right bank of tho Tiber.