St. Paul's outside the Walls
One of Rome's four major basilicas, this vast 19th-century structure sits just outside the ancient city walls and rewards photographers with dramatic architecture both inside and out. The colonnaded atrium leading to the main facade is one of the best compositions here, with its rows of columns creating strong symmetry and leading lines toward the golden mosaic above the entrance. Inside, the nave is enormous, lined with 80 marble columns and flooded with diffused light from alabaster windows that give the interior a warm, golden glow. Arrive early in the morning on a weekday to avoid crowds and catch softer light in the atrium. A wide-angle lens, somewhere in the 16-24mm range, is essential for capturing the full scale of the nave. The cloister adjacent to the basilica also offers a quieter, more intimate composition with its twisted columns and central garden. (Rome, Lazio, Italy)
