St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's is the spiritual heart of the Catholic world. It hosts papal masses, Christmas and Easter celebrations and papal funerals, and it sits at the end of what may be the most beautiful square ever built.

A short history

Pope Julius II laid the first stone of the new basilica in 1506, replacing the crumbling 4th-century church built by Constantine over the tomb of St. Peter. It was consecrated in 1626 by Urban VIII, 120 years later. In between, the greatest architects of the Renaissance and Baroque took turns: Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo (who designed the dome), Carlo Maderno (the façade and nave) and finally Bernini, who created the colonnade and much of the interior.

What to see inside

• Michelangelo's Pietà, just inside on the right, behind glass. He carved it at 24, and it's the only work he ever signed.
• Bernini's Baldacchino, the huge bronze canopy over the papal altar, almost 30 metres high.
• The bronze statue of St. Peter, whose right foot has been worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims' kisses.
• The Chair of St. Peter in the apse, with Bernini's golden window of the Holy Spirit above it.
• The Vatican Grottoes below the floor, with the tombs of many popes.

Practical information

Opening hours and queues

The basilica opens early, around 7:00, and closes in the early evening (later in summer). The security line in the colonnade can be long from mid-morning, so the best time is before 9:00 or late afternoon. The basilica closes to visitors during some papal ceremonies. On Wednesday mornings it usually opens only after the General Audience.

Dress code

It's strictly enforced: shoulders and knees covered, for men and women alike. Carry a light scarf in summer.

The dome

Climbing Michelangelo's dome is a separate visit with its own ticket, and one of the great experiences in Rome. See our guide to climbing the dome.