Basilica, R. A. Scotti
Basilica, R. A. Scotti
15 Rating(s)
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Basilica
The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter's

Author: R. A. Scotti

Narrator: Josephine Bailey

Unabridged: 8 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 07/14/2006

Synopsis

It was the splendor—and the scandal—of the age. In 1506, the ferociously ambitious Renaissance Pope Julius II tore down the most sacred shrine in Europe—the millennium-old St. Peter's Basilica built by the Emperor Constantine over the apostle's grave—to build a better basilica. Construction of the new St. Peter's spanned two centuries, embroiled twenty-seven popes, and consumed the genius of the greatest artists of the age—Michaelangelo, Bramante, Raphael, and Bernini. The cost of building the new cathedral was costly in more than just monetary terms—the new basilica provoked the Protestant Reformation, dividing the Christian world for all time.

In this swift, colorful narrative, R. A. Scotti brings to life the artists and the popes, the politics and the passions behind this audacious enterprise. Scotti turns sacred architecture into a spellbinding human epic of enormous daring, petty jealousy, and staggering genius.

About R. A. Scotti

R. A. Scotti is the author of two previous works of nonfiction, including Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938. She has also written four novels. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Charlie on November 26, 2015

A highly interesting and entertaining history of the building of St. Peter's basilica in Rome. Great for anyone interested in Renaissance history.......more

Goodreads review by Patrick on August 02, 2009

Very similar to ‘Brunelleschi’s Dome’ this is an account of building St. Peter’s. Broader is scope (the whole building not just the dome—and it is much bigger—thus more complicated, right?) but not as interesting, for some reason, this covers the centuries it took to assemble the building we have to......more

Goodreads review by Jason on November 03, 2014

R.A. Scotti's "Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter's" is more than just a biography of one of the world's great architectural wonder's. “Basilica” is a wonderfully readable historical narrative of the mid and late Renaissance in a plot-thick story of warrior-popes, internation......more

Goodreads review by Tomas on April 19, 2020

An interesting account and well chosen facts. Sadly, they are undermined by the lack of sources and "juicy" digressions, making this book more of an action novel than a historical account of the building of St Peter's Basilica.......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer on April 17, 2014

A fantastic history of not only Rome and the Basilica, but also of the incredible artwork, architecture, and engineering during the construction that changed the world. Highly recommend.......more

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