Funerary Monument of Pope Alexander VII (1655 - 1667) (they surely did like this guy) Done by sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1678, the Pope is represented kneeling in prayer above a basement covered by a a tapestry made out of red diasper marble from Sicility, which is lifted by a gilt bronze allegorical figure of death who indicates the hour of passage by a classidra. To the left and right are the allegorical figures of Charity and Truth; in the background the allegorical figures of Prudence and justice.
Nice window
Fuzzy shot, but a relic of St Peter
Red cloaks
Altar of St Jerome This one was a favourite with the crowds, so I guess he's important. Underneath a crytal urn, placed here in 2001, contains the remains of Beatified Pope John XXIII (1958 - 1963). The bronze decoration designed by Novello Finotti underlines two specific contributions of his pontificate; the ecumenical II Vatican Council and Ecumenical Dialogue; and the two encyclicals Mater Et Magistra, and Pacem In Terris
Pope John Paul down in the tombs
So Brett and I paid our good money to walk to the top of St Peters Basilica (were we indulging then or what?) and after 540 steps or so, came out on top, so here are some shots of Roma from on high
