The Tiber, Sant\' Angelo, and St. Peters, Rome, Italy
This scene is too full of wealth to attempt to describe briefly. Here glides the Tiber on its peaceful way to the sea-the river that has seen more power and glory and shame on its banks than any river in the world. In the middle distance frowns the tomb of a Roman emperor-the Castle of Sant' Angelo. In the background is the dome of St. Peter's. You know the tale of the founding of Rome. On the banks of the Tiber, the brothers Romulus and Remus were left to die. A she-wolf mothered them, and Romulus lived to found the city that bears his name. The Tiber might tell us how much of the tale is true; but it has a thousand stories of far more importance. For we know that a Rome was built, whoever may have founded it. It was built on the 7 hills overlooking the Tiber. And wherever the name of Rome went, there went also the name of the Tiber. Rome and the Tiber are inseparable. It has always been the ambitions of kings to be remembered. The Roman emperors, like the Egyptian Pharaohs, tried to make themselves everlasting through their tombs. Hadrian started the castle of Sant' Angelo as the tomb of Roman rulers. It is a great circular stone building that looks more like a fort than a tomb. The Church of St. Peter is the largest in the world. It is 639 feet long, and covers about 162,000 square feet-almost 4 acres of ground. The dome alone is 437 feet high and 138 feet across. It was built over the grave of Saint Peter. You should know that St. Peter's is partly a monument to the building skill of Michelangelo, the great Italian sculptor. The dome is largely of his planning. The church was 1300 years in building. Keystone ID: 11200 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.