St Peter’s Basilica

St Peter's Basilica stands over the traditional burial place of the apostle Peter, on the site of a fourth-century church built by Constantine. The present building was begun in 1506 and took around 120 years to complete, with Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini among the architects who shaped it. Bernini also designed the vast colonnaded piazza in front, whose curving arms are meant to embrace visitors as they arrive.

Inside, the scale is difficult to take in at first. Michelangelo's Pietà, carved when he was in his twenties, is behind glass in the first chapel on the right. Bernini's bronze baldacchino rises over the papal altar beneath the dome, and his Chair of St Peter fills the apse at the far end. The aisles are lined with papal tombs and monuments, and the bronze statue of St Peter, its foot worn smooth by pilgrims, sits near the crossing.

The dome, designed by Michelangelo and completed by Giacomo della Porta, can be climbed for views over St Peter's Square and the city. Part of the ascent can be made by lift, but the final section is a narrow staircase of several hundred steps, unsuitable for anyone with mobility problems or claustrophobia. Dome tickets are paid for separately; entry to the basilica itself is free.

From 26 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 the basilica opens daily from 7:00 to 19:00; in the summer months it closes at 20:00. The dome follows shorter hours, from 7:30 to 17:00 in winter and 7:00 to 18:00 in summer. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and all visitors pass a security check in the colonnade. Papal ceremonies, audiences and special liturgies can close parts of the basilica or the piazza, so check the official site before going.

Arrive soon after opening to avoid the longest queues, and allow at least an hour inside, more if you climb the dome. The basilica suits anyone interested in art or architecture as well as pilgrims. Ottaviano station on Metro Line A is about ten minutes' walk away, and Castel Sant'Angelo is reached along Via della Conciliazione. The Vatican Museums have a separate entrance on Viale Vaticano.