A Guide to
​St Peter's Basilica

The Portico

Portico by Carlo Maderno, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
The Portico
Measuring 71 metres in length, 13 metres in width, and 20 metres in height, the cavernous portico was designed and built by the architect Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) between 1608 and 1612.
Vault of the portico of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Vault
The vault of the portico was stuccoed by Giovanni Battista Ricci (c. 1537-1627) to Maderno's design. 
Andrew Introduces Peter to Christ, bas-relief, portico, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Andrew Introduces Peter to Christ
The stucco bas-reliefs depict scenes from the life of St Peter. The cycle starts with Andrew Introduces Peter to Christ and ends with The Crucifixion of Peter. 
Coat of arms of Pope Paul V, vault of portico of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Coat of Arms of Pope Paul V
The vault also sports the coats of arms of Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21). 

The lunettes below the vault contain statues of some of the many popes who have been designated saints.
Mosaic of the Navicella, portico of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Mosaic of the Navicella
Above the central entrance of the portico is the Navicella (Little Ship), a heavily reworked mosaic originally designed by Giotto for the first Jubilee, or Holy Year, which was held in 1300. It depicts the version from the Gospel of St Matthew of Christ walking on the water, the only one of the three gospel accounts in which Peter is summoned to join him. But Peter, letting himself be overcome by fear, begins to sink. Jesus saves him, saying, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?' (Matthew: 14:24–32, KJV).
'Feed My Sheep', relief in the atrium of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Pasces Oves Meas (Feed My Sheep)
​Directly opposite is a stucco relief of Pasces Oves Meas (Feed My Sheep), designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, but executed by his workshop. 
Column capital with dragon, Portico, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Column Capital with a Dragon
The five bronze doors are: The Door of Death, The Door of Good and Evil, The Door of Filarete, The Door of the Sacraments and The Holy Door.

​Three of the doors are flanked by antique fluted marble columns. The 17th century capitals sport dragons, a reference to the coat of arms of the Borghese family, to which Pope Paul V belonged. The Borghese coat of arms comprises a dragon and an eagle. The latter appears above. ​
Coat of arms of Pope John XXIII, Portico, St Peters Basilica, Rome
Coat of Arms of Pope John XXIII
In the centre of the pavement is the coat of arms of Pope John XXIII (r. 1958-63), which records his opening of the second Vatican Council on October 11th 1962. 

The pavement also sports the coats of arms of Pope Clement (r. 1700-21)and Pope Leo XIII (r. 1878-1903). ​