Photos

St Peter's Square | Piazza Di Pietra

One of the highlights of Vatican City, this astounding public square is the first thing you will see your way to St Peter's Cathedral.

The curving colonnades frame the church perfectly, and the large public space is one of the most beautiful in Rome.

The square was built by Bernini - a Baroque architect, sculptor and painter who also gave Rome another of my favourite public spaces, the Piazza Navona.

This photo was taken at sunrise. I planned (and surprisingly succeeded) to be in the first elevator up the cupola, where I also took this photo:

Vertigo in the Cupola
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Italy/photo44807.htm

Being up there early has its advantages. Most importantly, you don't have 50,000 other tourists jostling you. You also get rewarded with nice sunrises. In this photo, sunlight slowly advances over the piazza and the rest of Rome.

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Post processing on PS - rotate slightly >minor crop >levels >unsharp mask >brightness/contrast >colour balance