Going to Rome? Be sure to visit the Vatican and its monuments, including St. Peter’s Basilica!
Located on the right bank of the Tiber River in Rome’ s Vatican enclave, and opening onto St. Peter’s Square, a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica is an opportunity to see the most important religious edifice of the Catholic Church. It is Christianity’s most emblematic site, housing the tomb of Saint Peter, the first Pope and first Bishop of Antioch and Rome. Built between 1506 and 1626 on the site of Caligula and Nero’s circus, it is one of the world’s most visited monuments. With its 137-metre-high dome, St. Peter’s Basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered the most remarkable architectural feat of the Renaissance.
It is also the largest Catholic church in the world, with a capacity of 60,000. Every Sunday, over 150,000 faithful come here to celebrate the Papal Angelus. Every year, millions of pilgrims make the journey to pray and obtain the Pope’s blessing: it’s a bit like the Mecca of Western Christianity. Due to the number of tourists, and for security reasons, it’s difficult to visit St. Peter’s Basilica: the queue – in full sunlight – can be interminable.
A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica includes the monumental façade, with its statues of Christ and the apostles, its two clocks, the porch (narthex), the five doors leading into the basilica, and the richly decorated interior, with its dome and countless artistic treasures (tombs, relics, works of art and architectural masterpieces). So, what should you see when you visit St. Peter’s Basilica?
A brief history of St Peter’s Basilica
In the early days of the Roman Empire, the site was occupied by villas surrounded by imperial gardens, where the emperors Caligula (37-41) and Nero (54-68) lived. The Roman circuses they built were the scene of the martyrdom of countless Roman Christians: destroyed to build the basilica, the Vatican obelisk is the only vestige. The first basilica was built by Emperor Constantine and Pope Sylvester I, from 326 onwards. When the Popes moved to Avignon, the basilica was plundered by the Saracens and then the Normans, and fell into disuse over the centuries.
Construction of the present-day basilica began in 1506 under the pontificate of Julius II, and was completed under Urban VIII in 1626. Numerous architects succeeded one another, including Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo. It was the latter who designed the great dome that can be seen today in all the photos of Rome. For the record, it was the construction of the basilica that cemented the foundations of an alternative Christian religion: Protestantism. Indeed, the financing of the basilica – deemed too costly and extravagant – drew the ire of Martin Luther, who founded Protestantism in 1517. Taking the form of a Greek cross contained within a circle, the basilica symbolizes Christ over an area of 24,000 m².
What to see at St Peter’s Basilica
The basilica’s architecture is considered a work of art in its own right. The façade, the dome and the square in front of St. Peter’s Square are the most emblematic aspects, but the monument also conceals a number of marvels. Firstly, the climb up to the dome affords a unique view of the city of Rome. Access is via the right-hand side of the basilica: you have to climb 231 steps to reach the first landing, where you can enjoy a view of the interior of the basilica and the Dome.
Narrow staircases lead to the top, along the inner wall of the dome. A third spiral staircase, with the aid of a rope, takes you to the top, 136.57 meters high (551 steps in all!). The basilica has no bell tower, but six bells, placed at clock level on the façade. A long porch extends behind the façade, topped by a stuccoed vault and marble floor.
Photo credit: Flickr – Mzximvs VdB
A visit to St. Peter’s Basilica also takes you to a major museum: the Historical and Artistic Treasures Museum, home to Michelangelo’s Pietà, the baldachin for the high altar – commissioned in 1624 by Urban VIII, it was cast with the bronze from the pediment of the PantheonPantheon -, the tomb of Alexander VII (Gian Lorenzo Bernini), the tomb of Innocent VIII (Antonio del Pollaiolo) and the statue of St. Peter (Arnolfo di Cambio).
Next, visit the Vatican grottoes: the basilica contains over a hundred tombs – including those of 148 Popes and the tomb of John Paul II – located in the building’s underground passages. Finally, finish your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica with a visit to the necropolis: located in the second basement, the necropolis is less well known to the general public. Here you’ll find pagan burials dating back to the Roman Republic (2nd century BC).
How to visit St Peter’s Basilica (opening hours, prices)
When visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, remember that proper attire is required, as in all sacred places. So don’t visit St. Peter’s in a tank top and skirt or shorts… Note that shoulders and knees must be covered, as in all religious buildings (mosques, temples, etc.).
Visits to the basilica are free of charge, so you won’t have to wait very long, compared to the entrance to the dome, which is subject to a charge. You’ll need to wait between 30 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes to visit the dome.
The Basilica is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from October to March, and daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to September. The Treasure Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6.15 p.m. between April and September, and from 9 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. between October and March. Between April and September, the Vatican Grottoes are open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October to March.
Prices :
- St Peter’s Basilica: free admission,
- Admission ticket + audio-guide: €19.50,
- Dome elevator: €8,
- Cupola stairs: €6,
- Vatican Treasure: €5,
- Necropolis: €13 (reservation required),
- Vatican Grottoes: free admission.
Don’t forget to book online in advance! If you’re visiting the Vatican as a whole, there’s a complete guided tour that includes the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Find out more about this guided tour of the Vatican.
Main photo credit: Flickr – teldridge+keldridge