Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter's,   ISBN:B0014E92R8

Customer Rating: 

You know the old saying," You can't judge a book by it's cover." Apparently, the Basilica is an enormous example of the old adage. This book is a historical account of the building of one of the most well known structures in the world, St.Peter's Basilica. Before you pooh pooh the idea of reading another boring history book, hold on... this is a story of deceit, love, art, blackmail, envy and greed. The story spans the history of the Vatican from 1505-1667,the 150 years it took to conceive and build the Basilica. The story begins with Michelangelo,a young 31 year old artist, fleeing from Pope Julius II's, horsemen. It quickly intertwines the story from the temperamental cast of 8 Popes and artists such as Michelangelo, DaVinci,Bramante. The architectural design is so unique to the period that many of the delays involved inventing new construction techniques to achieve the desired product in the end. This brought on competition and more conflict.
I went to the Basilica before reading this book. When I saw it I thought,"I've been there, it is breath-taking!" Then I checked it out at the library, read it, looked it up on Amazon,purchased it . This is something I wanted to own. It has a time line, architectural drawings, 2 appendixes and a great index. The next time I went to the Vatican, I went to the Sistine Chapel and missed the Basilica. I still want to go back! RA Scotti has really given the reader a wonderful new perspective of the truth behind the Vatican and all that it means without spoiling (even enhancing appreciation for) the experience of entering the hallowed halls of the Basilica.

Customer Rating: 

What a great read! Once I started, the conclusion of one chapter made me turn the page and start the next.

A solid history of St Peter's, but also a wonderful telling of the history of the Catholic church and the string of popes who are associated with it and their chosen artisians who collectively create the cathedral.

While reading Scotti's book, I yearned for a trip to Rome to see it first hand.

Customer Rating: 

Before you read the book, know that even with all the sniping of some of the reviewers, this is an entertaining and thoughtful book. I doubt that Ms. Scotti went out of her way to make any mistakes as to the materials used or how the building was constructed. But nowhere in the book does she ever claim to be an architect or to have studied architecture. It would seem that her main purpose of writing this book was to explain how and why, then in what manner the building was constructed.

Pope Julius II (who thought of himself as the 'new' ceasar) decided to replace Constantine's Basilica of St. Peters with something even more extravagant. Why he would tear down a twelve hundred year old building is beyond question one of the most egotistical destructions up there with Stalin's tearing down of the major churches in Moscow and replacing them with a pool. But Julius was a man after his own heart and no one was going to get in his way.

That the renaissance popes were about as corrupt as could be (one was a bastard, another the grandson of a pope) profligate and a study in all seven of the deadly sins is unassailable. That the connivance of the curia and the priesthood to fleece the multitude to pay for their lavish life styles and to build the Basilica are truisms. How much the cost
of St.Peter's contributed to the selling of indulgences would be speculation but we do know that the sales are one of the major reasons that Luther stated in his '95 Theses'.

Read this book for the story, because a story it is and not as a history or architectural study and you will enjoy it.

Zeb Kantrowitz
[...]

Customer Rating: 

This book is a light read but does a good job in telling the story of the building of St Peters and the flawed and all too human characters who were involved in its building, including several Popes and the artists Michelangelo, Bramante, and Raphael. If you are planning to visit St Peters this book would add much to your enjoyment and appreciation of it.

Customer Rating: 

I read R.A. Scotti's book on the left of Mona Lisa and found it fascinating. This book, Basilica is proving to be informative and fascinating as well. Her writing is clever, giving lots of information, but not making it like a university text book, which can be so boring. She makes it all very interesting. She obviously has studied her subjects deeply and puts the information forth in a way that's enjoyable to read.

I love history and this is a wonderful way to learn it.

I will read more of her books!