The Factory of Sant Peter

 

Do you know what does the “Fabbrica di San Pietro” mean?
Here is the answer.

Pope Julius II decided to enlarge and renovate St. Peter’s Basilica and in order to to carry out these exceptional work, for which it took 120 years, he inaugurated the Fabbrica di San Pietro in 1506.

He appointed a commission of 60 men to take care of the construction and administration of the Basilica and to coordinate all the workers.

In addition to skilled artisans, plenty of the greatest names in the Italian art scene such as the architects Giuliano da Sangallo, Bramante and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, became part of the St. Peter’s factory.

Among the most famous names there were also those of Raphael and Michelangelo, who the task was entrusted to, on January 1, 1547.

The curiosity is that today the Fabbrica di San Pietro still exists and the same institution that takes care of the work and the reception of pilgrims (from 30 to 50 thousand per day).

However the Fabbrica owes much of its fame to the so called “Sanpietrini“,
humble and silent workers who were instrumental in the completion of the Basilica.

I like to end with a Roman saying :
“It looks like the Fabbrica di San Pietro”
What does it mean?

It refers to a work that you know when it started but it never ends,
a never ending job

An example?
Like when the City of Rome tries to cover all the bumps in the Roman streets