St. Peter's Basilica

Overview

St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is the, unquestioned center of the Catholic world. It is the largest, most staggering, and overwhelmingly opulent church ever built in human history, standing as the ultimate masterpiece of Renaissance and Baroque engineering.

Highlights

• The Dome: Designed by Michelangelo, the massive dome soars 136 metres high. You can climb the 551 steps to the very top for the single most magnificent view over St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Gardens.
• The Pietà: Located immediately in the first chapel on the right, Michelangelo's incredibly heartbreaking, polished marble masterpiece of Mary holding Jesus, carved when he was just 24 years old.
• Bernini's Baldacchino: The massive, 30-metre-tall twisting solid bronze canopy standing over the papal altar (and according to tradition over the tomb of St. Peter himself).

History

The current massive basilica was built on top of the original, decaying 4th-century church constructed by Emperor Constantine (which itself was built over the Circus of Nero where Saint Peter was famously crucified upside down). Construction took over 120 years, utilizing the greatest masters of the era: Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Bernini.

Visitor Tips

• Dress Code: The dress code is enforced with merciless military precision by the Swiss Guards. no bare shoulders, short skirts, or shorts ending above the knee are allowed inside, regardless of the brutal summer heat.
• The Climb: If you plan to climb the dome, do it first thing in the morning before attempting to view the interior; the heat and lines inside the narrow dome get claustrophobic by midday.