St. Peter’s Basilica is located in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. And every year the basilica is visited by more than seven million visitors. But is a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City worthwhile? In this blog, we’re going to tell you all about it.
What is St. Peter’s Basilica?
St. Peter’s Basilica is a Catholic church and basilica major in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The basilica was built in 1506 as a tribute to the first pope in history, St. Peter. And the basilica has been the most important religious building of Catholicism and one of the most important symbols of the city of Rome from the beginning. St. Peter’s Basilica is also home to the Holy See, which can be considered the central governing body of the Catholic Church. And the basilica is not only from the outside one of the most beautiful buildings in Rome, but it is also breathtakingly beautiful inside.
What are the features of St. Peter’s Basilica?
St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world . It can hold a total of 60,000 people. Below are some features to show you just how big and prestigious this basilica is!
1. The basilica is 218 meters long, 154 meters wide and 119 meters high 2. The basilica has a total area of 2.3 hectares 3. Inside the basilica there are 27 richly decorated chapels 4. The dome of the basilica is 136 meters high
Who built St. Peter’s Basilica?
Several architects participated in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, including Michelangelo, Bramante and Bernini.
What to see in St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is huge and there is a lot to admire. To help you plan your visit to this beautiful basilica, we have made a top 6 of the things you really must have seen when visiting the basilica.
1. The façade of St. Peter’s Basilica 2. Michelangelo’s Pietà 3. Bernini’s canopy 4. The Chair of St. Peter 5. The grottoes of the Vatican 6. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica
1. The facade of St. Peter's Basilica.
Before going inside St. Peter’s Basilica, take a moment to admire the exterior of the building, such as the huge columns on the front of the building and the statues of Christ and his apostles. On the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica you will find a text that reads ” IN HONOREM PRINCIPIS APOST PAVLVS V BVRGHESIVS ROMANVS PONT MAX AN MDCXII PONT VII “. This means, “In honor of the Prince of the Apostles, Paul V Borghese, the great pope of Rome, in the year 1612, the seventh year of his pontificate. Finally, you will notice that the basilica does not have a bell tower. The bells are located under the clock located on the left side of the facade. There are 6 in total, all of which are rung at the same time, but only on important occasions such as Easter or Christmas.
2. The Pietà by Michelangelo
As soon as you enter St. Peter’s Basilica, you will see on your right one of the most recognizable statues in the world: Michelangelo’s Pietà. This work depicts the Virgin Mary mourning Christ and dying in her arms after his crucifixion. Michelangelo’s Pietà is over a meter long and truly dominates the first part of the basilica. It is also the only work Michelangelo signed.
3. Bernini's canopy
At the center of the basilica is the high altar. It is crowned by a huge bronze canopy, which was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, an Italian architect and sculptor. And it is one of the most important elements of this building, especially since it is placed directly above the tomb of St. Peter and under the dome. you will see, this is truly one of the most spectacular aspects of the basilica!
4. The Chair of St. Peter
The pulpit is the throne located in the apse of the basilica (the rear part of a monument, which is often circular). It is made of oak and is surrounded by bronze statues of saints and angels. It is called ” Cathedra Petri,” which means “seat of the pope.” In fact, it is a symbol of the pope’s authority. When ordained as such, the pope has the duty to teach and pass on the proclamation of the Gospel. It is still one of the most impressive elements of the basilica, not only because of its size but also because of its prestige.
5. The caves of the Vatican
There are several cellars in St. Peter’s Basilica, one of which is free to enter. These are the grottoes of the Vatican. In these caves you will find tombs of ancient kings, queens and popes dating from after the 10th century. The tomb of St. Peter is the most famous tomb in the Vatican grottoes. You can also see various works of art dating back to ancient times.
6. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica
The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is a symbol of Rome. And this magnificent dome can be seen even from afar in the city. But this dome cannot only be admired from the outside, because you can in fact climb the dome to enjoy the most beautiful view of Rome.
How can you climb the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica?
The entrance to the dome of the basilica is on the right, outside the monument. Then, to climb to the top of the basilica and enter the famous dome, you have to climb several steep stairs.
Access to the dome of the basilica
To begin with, there is a first platform with 231 steps to climb. And on the platform you have a good view of the beautiful and luxurious interior of the basilica. After climbing the first platform, you can continue climbing a staircase with 320 steps, but this time the stairs are a lot steeper and the passages are very narrow. Especially at the end, the climb to the top of the dome becomes a lot more complicated. There are no handrails to hold on to, only a rope to climb the last few steps. But the climb to the top is well worth it, because the view is truly breathtaking. You can see all of Rome from a magnificent perspective.
Like all churches and religious monuments in Rome, entrance to the basilica is free. But it is such a popular monument that it is easy to stand in line for hours to get in.You will have to be patient, because whether you visit with or without a guide, you all have to go through the same security check.Also, we recommend joining a guided tour if you have the time and money for it. The architecture of the place is so rich and impressive that you will enjoy it much less without a guide. Below we have listed the most popular and best tours for you.
1. St. Peter's Basilica, papal tombs and tour of the dome
This amazing tour will take you to St. Peter’s Basilica, papal tombs and you will have the chance to climb the dome of the basilica. The tour can also be booked in multiple languages, including French, German, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
2. Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour
With this comprehensive three-hour tour, you get to tour the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. The tour can also be booked in multiple languages, including French, German, English and Spanish.
When is the best time to visit St. Peter's Basilica?
We recommend visiting the basilica on a weekday. And then it is best to visit in the afternoon, because then the big shouts have already left and then it is a lot quieter in the basilica. On Wednesdays and Sundays it is better not to visit the basilica, because on these days there are papal masses or audiences and the basilica is closed all day or for a few hours….
Where is St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
The basilica is located on the square of the same name: Piazza San Pietro in Vatican City.
How do you get to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome?
The basilica is very easy to reach by subway or bus.
1. By metro to St. Peter’s Basilica : stop Ottaviano / line A, then 10-minute walk 2. By bus to Saint Peter’s Basilica : stop Risorgimento/Porta Angelica / lines 23, 982
Special offers for a city break to Rome
Are you going on a city break to Rome Rome and would like to see some of the sights in Rome visit, then take advantage of the offers below!
St. Peter’s Basilica: Is it worth a visit?
St. Peter’s Basilica is located in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. And every year the basilica is visited by more than seven million visitors. But is a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City worthwhile? In this blog, we’re going to tell you all about it.
What is St. Peter’s Basilica?
St. Peter’s Basilica is a Catholic church and basilica major in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The basilica was built in 1506 as a tribute to the first pope in history, St. Peter. And the basilica has been the most important religious building of Catholicism and one of the most important symbols of the city of Rome from the beginning. St. Peter’s Basilica is also home to the Holy See, which can be considered the central governing body of the Catholic Church. And the basilica is not only from the outside one of the most beautiful buildings in Rome, but it is also breathtakingly beautiful inside.
What are the features of St. Peter’s Basilica?
St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world . It can hold a total of 60,000 people. Below are some features to show you just how big and prestigious this basilica is!
1. The basilica is 218 meters long, 154 meters wide and 119 meters high
2. The basilica has a total area of 2.3 hectares
3. Inside the basilica there are 27 richly decorated chapels
4. The dome of the basilica is 136 meters high
Who built St. Peter’s Basilica?
Several architects participated in the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, including Michelangelo, Bramante and Bernini.
What to see in St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is huge and there is a lot to admire. To help you plan your visit to this beautiful basilica, we have made a top 6 of the things you really must have seen when visiting the basilica.
1. The façade of St. Peter’s Basilica
2. Michelangelo’s Pietà
3. Bernini’s canopy
4. The Chair of St. Peter
5. The grottoes of the Vatican
6. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica
1. The facade of St. Peter's Basilica.
Before going inside St. Peter’s Basilica, take a moment to admire the exterior of the building, such as the huge columns on the front of the building and the statues of Christ and his apostles. On the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica you will find a text that reads ” IN HONOREM PRINCIPIS APOST PAVLVS V BVRGHESIVS ROMANVS PONT MAX AN MDCXII PONT VII “. This means, “In honor of the Prince of the Apostles, Paul V Borghese, the great pope of Rome, in the year 1612, the seventh year of his pontificate. Finally, you will notice that the basilica does not have a bell tower. The bells are located under the clock located on the left side of the facade. There are 6 in total, all of which are rung at the same time, but only on important occasions such as Easter or Christmas.
2. The Pietà by Michelangelo
As soon as you enter St. Peter’s Basilica, you will see on your right one of the most recognizable statues in the world: Michelangelo’s Pietà. This work depicts the Virgin Mary mourning Christ and dying in her arms after his crucifixion. Michelangelo’s Pietà is over a meter long and truly dominates the first part of the basilica. It is also the only work Michelangelo signed.
3. Bernini's canopy
At the center of the basilica is the high altar. It is crowned by a huge bronze canopy, which was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, an Italian architect and sculptor. And it is one of the most important elements of this building, especially since it is placed directly above the tomb of St. Peter and under the dome. you will see, this is truly one of the most spectacular aspects of the basilica!
4. The Chair of St. Peter
The pulpit is the throne located in the apse of the basilica (the rear part of a monument, which is often circular). It is made of oak and is surrounded by bronze statues of saints and angels. It is called ” Cathedra Petri,” which means “seat of the pope.” In fact, it is a symbol of the pope’s authority. When ordained as such, the pope has the duty to teach and pass on the proclamation of the Gospel. It is still one of the most impressive elements of the basilica, not only because of its size but also because of its prestige.
5. The caves of the Vatican
There are several cellars in St. Peter’s Basilica, one of which is free to enter. These are the grottoes of the Vatican. In these caves you will find tombs of ancient kings, queens and popes dating from after the 10th century. The tomb of St. Peter is the most famous tomb in the Vatican grottoes. You can also see various works of art dating back to ancient times.
6. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica
The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is a symbol of Rome. And this magnificent dome can be seen even from afar in the city. But this dome cannot only be admired from the outside, because you can in fact climb the dome to enjoy the most beautiful view of Rome.
How can you climb the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica?
The entrance to the dome of the basilica is on the right, outside the monument. Then, to climb to the top of the basilica and enter the famous dome, you have to climb several steep stairs.
Access to the dome of the basilica
To begin with, there is a first platform with 231 steps to climb. And on the platform you have a good view of the beautiful and luxurious interior of the basilica. After climbing the first platform, you can continue climbing a staircase with 320 steps, but this time the stairs are a lot steeper and the passages are very narrow. Especially at the end, the climb to the top of the dome becomes a lot more complicated. There are no handrails to hold on to, only a rope to climb the last few steps. But the climb to the top is well worth it, because the view is truly breathtaking. You can see all of Rome from a magnificent perspective.
How do you visit St. Peter's Basilica?
Like all churches and religious monuments in Rome, entrance to the basilica is free. But it is such a popular monument that it is easy to stand in line for hours to get in.You will have to be patient, because whether you visit with or without a guide, you all have to go through the same security check.Also, we recommend joining a guided tour if you have the time and money for it. The architecture of the place is so rich and impressive that you will enjoy it much less without a guide. Below we have listed the most popular and best tours for you.
1. St. Peter's Basilica, papal tombs and tour of the dome
This amazing tour will take you to St. Peter’s Basilica, papal tombs and you will have the chance to climb the dome of the basilica. The tour can also be booked in multiple languages, including French, German, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
2. Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour
With this comprehensive three-hour tour, you get to tour the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. The tour can also be booked in multiple languages, including French, German, English and Spanish.
When is the best time to visit St. Peter's Basilica?
We recommend visiting the basilica on a weekday. And then it is best to visit in the afternoon, because then the big shouts have already left and then it is a lot quieter in the basilica. On Wednesdays and Sundays it is better not to visit the basilica, because on these days there are papal masses or audiences and the basilica is closed all day or for a few hours….
Where is St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
The basilica is located on the square of the same name: Piazza San Pietro in Vatican City.
How do you get to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome?
The basilica is very easy to reach by subway or bus.
1. By metro to St. Peter’s Basilica : stop Ottaviano / line A, then 10-minute walk
2. By bus to Saint Peter’s Basilica : stop Risorgimento/Porta Angelica / lines 23, 982
Special offers for a city break to Rome
Are you going on a city break to Rome Rome and would like to see some of the sights in Rome visit, then take advantage of the offers below!
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