Aart Heering
A fruitful synthesis of mind and matter. This is how one could philosophically define the collaboration between the Fabbrica di San Pietro (the Vatican institution that manages St. Peter's), the digital giant Microsoft and Iconem, a French company specializing in digitizing cultural heritage. The result is a virtual clone of St. Peter's, which makes it possible to see the cathedral up close, even in its most remote corners.
400.000 images
After two years of preparation, more than 2 high-resolution images were captured in three weeks – in the evening, after the Basilica was closed to the public – using drones, cameras and lasers: “enough to fill 3 million DVDs,” Microsoft representative Brad Smith said during the project presentation in the Vatican press room.
Using the photogramme method, combining many photographs taken from different angles, a three-dimensional image has been reconstructed, yielding an almost perfect twin sister of the basilica.
During the course of the project La Basilica di San Pietro: AI-Enhanced Experience In addition, a large number of imperfections that are barely visible to the human eye were found – cracks, fractures, missing pieces of mosaic, cobwebs – which can now be restored in time.
It is the first time that artificial intelligence (AI) has been used to create a three-dimensional copy of a religious monument of this size. According to Cardinal Mauro Gambetta, archpriest of the basilica and director of the Fabbrica, it is a wonderful way to allow as many people as possible, including those who are unable to visit the Vatican themselves, to share in the spiritual and cultural inspiration that emanates from the basilica.
More prosaically, a virtual visit to the site is also useful as a starter to get an idea before you enter St. Peter's itself.
Petros and
The digital version of St. Peter's will start in December, shortly before the opening of the Holy Year 2025 on Christmas Eve. Before that, it can already be seen in the exhibition Petros and. ('Here lies Peter' in Greek, the colloquial language of the first Christians in Rome, the text carved into a shard found at the apostle's presumed grave.)
A preview of this was recently held for journalists accredited to the Vatican. The exhibition is located on the roof terrace next to the dome of St. Peter's, which offers a magnificent view of the Vatican Gardens and can be reached by an extremely slow elevator or a dizzyingly narrow spiral corridor.
In addition, it can be seen that, just like in the adjacent Roman districts, work is still being done on the roof of the basilica itself in preparation for the coming Jubilee Year (2025).
Virtual journey
In the darkened, relatively small exhibition hall, the introduction to St. Peter's is up close. The paintings that adorn the dome designed by Michelangelo, and that you can barely see from the basilica itself, now move slowly before us.
On the walls other moving images tell the story of its creation:
- the Circus (racecourse) of Emperor Caligula, where Peter, the first bishop of Rome, was crucified in the year 64.
- the 2nd century burial chapel beneath the current St. Peter's where the saying 'Pétros enì' was found.
- out of 4e-century basilica of Emperor Constantine.
- its gradual demolition during the almost century-long construction of the new Sint-Pieter.
- and finally the current basilica.
A lower exhibition space contains architectural x-rays of the basilica through the centuries and a tour of an empty St. Peter's.
Finally, you will take a virtual journey up from the catacombs where the (very likely) final resting place of the apostle was found during excavations in the 40s, up to the eye in the dome that looks out to heaven. Impressive.
Practical information
The exhibition Petros and will be open daily to a maximum of 600 visitors, divided over 10 guided tours of 45 minutes. Digital reservation required.
More information on www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/petros-eni en virtual.basilicasanpietro.va/en (including 3D virtual tour).
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