Attraction
Colosseum
The Flavian Amphitheatre, completed in AD 80 under Titus, is Rome's defining ancient monument and the centrepiece of the Parco archeologico del Colosseo.
St Peter’s Basilica
Rebuilt between 1506 and 1626 to designs by Bramante, Michelangelo and Maderno, St Peter's is the vast papal basilica at the heart of Vatican City.
At a glance
- Type
- Basilica
- Area
- Vatican City, Rome, Italy
- Official site
- basilicasanpietro.va
Good to know
- Free entry
- Dome climb
- Michelangelo's Pietà
Why we recommend it
Construction of the present basilica began in 1506 and took 120 years, with Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno and Bernini all shaping the building and its great colonnaded piazza. Inside, the scale is hard to grasp: look for Michelangelo's Pietà in the first chapel on the right, Bernini's bronze baldacchino over the papal altar, and the tombs and monuments lining the aisles.
The dome, Michelangelo's design finished by Giacomo della Porta, can be climbed for a view over the piazza and the city; it opens and closes earlier than the basilica, and hours change between summer and winter. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Go early in the morning to beat the security queue in the colonnade, and check the official site for papal ceremonies that can affect access.
St Peter’s Basilica FAQs
Is entry to St Peter's Basilica free?
Yes, entry to the basilica is free; the dome climb is a separate paid visit.
What are the opening hours?
From 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 the basilica opens 7:00 to 19:00; in summer it closes at 20:00.