Monument to Alexander VII
Monument to Alexander VII
4.5
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In St. Peter's Chapel of the Sacrament is where Bernini's monument to Alexander VII is located.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
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Lance H
Boerne, TX1,258 contributions
Dec 2019
Yes another Bernini Masterpiece to be found in Vatican City and Rome. I didn't know who Alexander VII was. This piece is full of intricate detail and symbolism. It is also VERY large. Don;t miss it if you visit the Basilica.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China174,773 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This is one of my favourite monuments within St. Peter's Basilica. It is dedicated to Pope Alexander VII (1655-67) and is the work of then 80 year old Bernini (1678). What you see is Alexander kneeling in prayer, he is surrounded by marble figures of virtue including Charity, Truth, Prudence and Justice. Most strikingly, from under the beautiful marble veil, is the skeleton of death figure, lifting an hour-glass, indicating that the Pope's time has passed. It is beautiful monument and the last masterpiece gift to the world by Bernini before his own passing two years after completing this work.
Written May 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fanatic-Gastronome
San Francisco, CA280 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
Pope Alexander VII wanted a monumental tomb to immortalize himself and commissioned Gianlorenzo Bernini. At the age of 81, this would be Bernini's last major sculptural commission before his death in 1680. However, construction of the monument didn't start until 1671 and was completed in 1678, eleven years after the Pope's death.
Six figures are in the monument. Pope Alexander VII is kneeling in prayer at the top. Below him are four female statues representing virtues practiced by the Pontiff. On the foreground is Charity with a child in her arms. To the right of that is Truth, whose foot rests on a globe. Prudence and Justice are on the 2nd level. When the tomb was unveiled, Pope Innocent XI had objected to not only the nudity of Truth but also the bare breasts of Charity (how fitting). Thus Bernini was forced to dress the figures.
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Six figures are in the monument. Pope Alexander VII is kneeling in prayer at the top. Below him are four female statues representing virtues practiced by the Pontiff. On the foreground is Charity with a child in her arms. To the right of that is Truth, whose foot rests on a globe. Prudence and Justice are on the 2nd level. When the tomb was unveiled, Pope Innocent XI had objected to not only the nudity of Truth but also the bare breasts of Charity (how fitting). Thus Bernini was forced to dress the figures.
Hope this makes your visit more interesting and exciting.
Please mark "helpful" if you appreciate this review.
Written May 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craig B
25 contributions
This is probably my favourite piece of art in rome. Definitely worth taking the time to study fully. Read up on the symbolism of each element. Such as England being the thorn in an angels foot.
Written February 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,571 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
10 years before starting work on the tomb of Alexander VII at the end of his life, Bernini created a sculpture of this pope for the Siena Cathedral. An ordinary Roman pope sitting on the throne. The tomb is in the Cathedral of St. Peter Bernini graduated at the age of 80. This is one of his last works. There are six significant figures in the tomb, created in 1671-1678. Pope Alexander VII himself is upstairs. Well, about the same as in Siena. Sitting on top. Under the booty is a figure of death made of gilded bronze hourglass, hinting that the time has come... In the background there are sculptures of Prudence and Justice, which are not very visible from below. The emphasis is on two virtues - Charity with a child in her arms and the most erotic Truth. The Foot of Truth rests on a globe and is located directly above England, where the pope sought to restrain the growth of Anglicanism. Initially, Truth was naked, and Charity had a bare chest. However, the hypocritical Pope Innocent XI, who replaced Alexander VII, demanded that women be dressed, and Bernini had to drape both Charity and Truth. For the drapery, Bernini used Sicilian red jasper, which created a magnificent contrast with the marble sculptures. Under the veil, by the way, is the entrance to the chapel of St. Mary, from which it was possible to exit the cathedral.
Written May 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelerCentralFLA
Clermont, FL1,781 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
Bernini sculpted this monument for Pope Alexander VII. It is one of the largest monuments inside St. Peter's Basilica. It is very large and a masterpiece of Renaissance art. The problem with so much of the art in St. Peter's is that it can get lost in a sea of other priceless masterpieces and beautiful architecture. Everywhere you look there is a beautiful masterpiece by Bernini or Michelangelo or another great artist. However, this monument is so large that it is hard to overlook. I recommend you spend some time admiring this work of art on your visit to St. Peter's.
Written March 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maloudja
Folkestone, UK136 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
This sculpture of Alexander VII by Bernini is incredible. A real labour of love. If you miss everything else (which would be a shame) make sure you see this and the Pieta.
Written May 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
95nikop
Brisbane, Australia2,362 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
Like pretty much everything in the Vatican, this is once again another example of perfection. Bernini's work is truly without fault and this is another example of that especially as it was his final piece. It is worth stopping by for a minute or two to take the sculpture in.
Written January 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Spanish Steps Apartment
Rome, Italy34,006 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
This is a massive sculptural funerary monument in St. Peter's Basilica designed by the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The pope sits above, in prayer; below him are female figures representing virtues. Death, however, steals the scene: a gilded skeleton, its face covered by a billowing cloud of red jasper, still raises an arm holding a gilded hourglass, reminding us we are all mortal and our time on earth is running out. An amazing piece of sculpture.
Written May 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
@JT3AZ
Phoenix, Arizona4,937 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Like others have said, this Bernini sculpture from 1667 is amazing. The rare red marble seeming flows like the sheet is is sculpted to represent. Many people miss the skeleton holding the hour-glass partially under the marble sheet at the entrance to the tomb. The inclusion of many different colored marble is so beautiful.
Written March 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long it is required to go round the Vatican city? one day is enough? I am planning to visit during 1st week of October? Is it right season to visit? how far the vatican city from Colosseum?
Written August 5, 2019
I did it in one day, while I was able to finish it in one day, I felt rushed. I would have liked to spend more time. The tour guide was rushing us and i didn't feel I got the whole experience.
Written August 5, 2019
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