3The Altar Of The Crucifixion Of St Peter

There seems to be countless beautiful altars in St Peter’s Basilica but the Altar of the Crucifixion of St Peter is particularly special. Why? The Altar is supposedly in the exact spot where St Peter was executed in the Circus of Nero. Of course there is no way to verify this but it certainly makes for a great story.

The altarpiece has changed several times over the centuries. Now, a mosaic based on Guido Reni’s ‘Crucifixion of St Peter’ sits above the altar. In a unique twist, St Peter is depicted being crucified upside down. The original painting hangs in the Vatican galleries.

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