"The Fisherman's Trap" in Memory of the Apostle Peter
To pay tribute to the Apostle Peter, the Gardens and Environment Service—part of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Services of the Governorate of the Vatican City State—has revived a tradition that dates back to the late 1700s.
Starting on the evening before the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the so-called "Nassa del Pescatore" (The Fisherman's Trap) is hung on the two white columns made of African marble at the main entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica. This symbol recalls the ancient trade of Saint Peter, the first of the Apostles.
The nassa is a metal structure that replicates the shape of a traditional fishing tool, consisting of a funnel and a net that traps fish attracted by bait placed inside. It represents the traps that fishermen on the Sea of Galilee would leave in the water overnight and retrieve in the morning with the day’s catch.
The nassa is suspended at both ends by two ropes and is entirely decorated with sprigs of aromatic plants. Five hundred small bundles of Tarentine myrtle (Myrtus tarentina) are tied to the main body of the structure, while 400 bundles of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) are attached along the ropes.
Creating the nassa requires significant effort and involves around ten people. The work begins about a week before June 29 – the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul - with the harvesting of Tarentine myrtle, which grows abundantly at the edges of the forest in the Vatican Gardens. Once collected, the foliage is transported to the service’s main facility, where it is selected and washed. Leaves that are too tender are trimmed off with scissors, as they would quickly rot.
The resulting bundles are soaked in water and then stored in a refrigerated room. The bay laurel, on the other hand, is purchased from outside vendors, as there are not enough laurel plants in the Vatican Gardens to meet demand. The laurel is processed in the same way. With this evocative symbol in the Basilica’s entrance we are reminded of the labor of our first Pope, Saint Peter, whom Christ transformed into a Fisher of Men.
