St. Peter's Piazza and Obelisk

St. Peter's Square was completed between 1656 and 1667 by Bernini, on the orders of Pope Alexander VII. The architect gave life to one of his most beautiful scenic designs by creating the trapezoidal widening which starts at the façade and widens into two semicircular arms of the colonnade, so designing an ellipse 240 meters wide.

At the center is the obelisk, brought to Rome by Caligula to decorate the "spina" of Nero's circus. Located just to the right of today's basilica, this was where St. Peter was crucified. Sixtus IV had the obelisk moved from its original position and Domenico Fontana, along with an army of men and machines, took 4 months to complete the removal job. While it was being erected, there was a law prohibiting anyone from making noise, on pain of severe punishment.
The two arms of the colonnade, made up of 284 columns and surmounted by 140 statues, embrace the faithful and welcome all the world to the center of Christianity.
The apostolic palace, the pope's residence, overlooks the right hand arm of the colonnade. The first 3 windows of the top floor belong to his apartment. From the middle window, which is his study, the Pope gives the Benediction of the Angelus on Sundays.
On the right flank of the basilica itself, you can see the roof of the Sistine Chapel where the conclave is held to elect a new pope and where, the famous puffs of smoke announce the decision.