The St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is an emblem of Renaissance architecture and the seat of Catholic Christianity.
With its complex structures and magnificent architectural brilliance, it is the largest church in the world.
It is famous not just for the cathedral, chapels, and areas of worship but also for the famous dome, which is about 117 meters high, which makes it the world’s largest dome.
Below the basilica lie the Vatican grottoes, consisting of the holy tombs of the popes, church dignitaries, and certain kings and queens.
Further below the grottoes is the Vatican necropolis of ancient Rome and Vatican City.
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about St. Peter’s Basilica and how you can plan a perfect trip to this largest church in the world.
Snapshot
Timings: 7 am to 7.10 pm
Tour Duration: 2 hours
Best time to visit: 7 am to 10 am
Ticket Price: €29
Location: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano
Highlights: Dome, La Pietà,
Do I need to buy tickets to get admission to St. Peter’s Basilica?
No, as St. Peter’s Basilica is a church, it is free to enter.
However, if you want to climb the dome or visit Papal Tombs, you will have to buy tickets for such activities.
Art lovers and history buffs seeking a detailed visit to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums should opt for a guided tour.
The Dome climb ticket costs €29 for adults aged 4+ years, and children aged 3 years and below get free entry.
Below are a few ticket options that you can explore:
Different Sections of St Peter’s Basilica
This section discusses the basilica’s main areas, their significance, and what they offer.
Among the key highlights are the Baldacchino canopy, the crypt and underground grottoes, and the opportunity to ascend to the top of the dome.
St Peter’s Cathedral
The “Cathedra Sancti Petri Apostoli” is the throne of St. Peter, an ancient wooden throne with ivory plaques and friezes.
The architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini created a large monument in gilded bronze in 1666 to protect the wooden and ivory structure.
It is a fusion of bronze statues and elements, with a height of 14.74 meters and a weight of 74 tonnes.
Two angels surround the altar with a crown of papal insignia of the keys and tiara, and behind it, a scene of Christ entrusting Peter with the leadership of the church.
Over a hundred candles illuminate Bernini’s monument on February 22, the day of the solemn festivities of the Cathedral of St. Peter.
The Dome
The Dome of the Basilica is a masterpiece by Michelangelo, who designed and built it to excellence.
The inner dome of the lantern has a height of 117 meters, while the cross at the top of the dome is over 133 meters high.
It has famous paintings and sculptures of Michelangelo, followed by the tireless work of 800 laborers.
The dome has a large gilded bronze sphere surmounted by the cross and mosaic frieze at the base of the dome.
Provisions have been made to provide a closer view of the dome from the upper balconies inside the basilica.
Another attractive activity is climbing the dome from the outside and viewing the cityscape of Rome and its surroundings.
The Altar of the Confessio
The ‘Confessio’ is the holy area in front of the main altar of the basilica that allows a view of St. Peter’s tomb from above.
The term “Confessio” evokes Peter’s martyrdom on Vatican Hill and the oppression of Emperor Nero.
The tomb of Peter is identifiable in the so-called “Niche of the Pallia,” beneath the bronze papal altar or Baldachinno canopy and the dove depicting the Holy Spirit.
The Tomb of St. Peter
St. Peter’s tomb lies beneath the Basilica’s main altar.
Constantine built a small memorial monument at this modest burial site on the southern slopes of Vatican Hill.
Subsequently, the construction of the new Renaissance basilica took place on it in the 1500s.
Vatican Grottoes
The Vatican Grottoes are located on the lower level of Saint Peter’s Basilica and consist of a system of vaults built between 1590 and 1591 to support the floor of the Renaissance building.
There are frescoes by the painter Giovan Battista Ricci da Novara, which include hagiographic paintings of the miraculous events at the Petrine tomb and illustrations of monuments of the ancient basilica.
It became like a memorial or museum where statues, mosaics, paintings, and inscriptions were displayed as relics of the venerated and lost church.
Archaeological explorations led to the discovery of the tomb of St. Peter and the Vatican Necropolis.
In 1979, a sizable archway was constructed in the middle of the grottoes to reveal the front of the Confessio and the location nearest to St. Peter’s tomb.
The Necropolis
The Vatican Necropolis is situated three to eleven meters below the basilica floor, further below the level of the Vatican Grottoes.
Historical and archaeological evidence of St. Peter’s Basilica traces the ancient earthen road leading to the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles.
Excavations further found that 2nd-century brick buildings became the foundation for the 4th-century Petrine Basilica.
Based on an approximation, about 22 tomb buildings are intended to hold about 1000 burials.
These possess names from imperial families,s including men, women, and especially children, inscriptions
St Peter’s Treasury Museum
The “Treasury Museum” in St. Peter’s Basilica has a collection of liturgical objects, once used to conduct sacred functions in the Basilica but now withdrawn from use.
It displays the treasury of liturgical objects, vestments, and sacred vessels entrusted to the Chapter of St. Peter.
The Museum of the Treasury is open during the Basilica’s regular hours of operation.
St Peter’s Square
Architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed St. Peter’s Square at Pope Alexander VII’s request.
The square is made up of an oval space with three centers and semicircular columns connected to the basilica by “arms”.
The hemicycles of the two pillars spread wide, embracing Rome and the entire world.
The square holds the famous statue of the Madonna and Child, or “Mother of the Church.”
At the center of the square stands the Vatican obelisk, surmounted by the saving cross of Christ, commemorating the crucifixion of Peter.
Opening and Celebration Hours
The Basilica is open throughout the year from 7 am to 7.10 pm.
The celebration hours in the Basilica are:
Weekday Masses
Morning Hours – 7 am to 12 pm
Evening Hours – 5 pm to 9 pm
Masses on holidays:
Morning Hours – 7 am to 12.30 pm
Evening Hours – 4 pm to 6 pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation Hours
Monday to Saturday – 7 am to 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.
Sunday – 7 am to 1 pm and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.
Continuous Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Monday to Saturday – at the end of the 8.30 am Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel continues until 6.45 pm.
Dome Hours
1 April to 30 September – 7.30 to 6 pm
1 October to 31 March – 7.30 to 5 pm
Note: Depending on the number of people in the line, the closing may occur up to 30 minutes early.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the basilica is early in the morning when it opens at 7 am the basilica remains less crowded until 10 or 11 am.
Another good time to plan your viti to the basilica is between 1 pm and 5 pm, in between the mass schedules, when you can freely move to all the sections of the basilica.
Opt for weekdays to visit, except for Wednesday mornings when the basilica is closed for papal audiences.
We suggest you visit during the low seasons, in the months between November and March.
Except for December, which is the month of festivities, all other months see a low crowd level, giving you enough time to roam around the place.
How long does it take to visit?
The basilica tour takes about 2 hours to complete and includes all its parts.
You start with the cathedral, altar, and chapels and can go down to see the grottoes and the necropolis, which can take 1.5 hours or so.
Once done, you can go out and climb the Domb with the elevator or 500+ stairs.
Spend 20 minutes there, soaking in the beautiful view from the top and spotting popular Vatican and Rome attractions like the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, etc.
Things to Remember
- It is mandatory to follow the dress code as you enter the holy basilica of St. Peter’s by wearing clothes that cover your knees, shoulders, chest, and belly area.
- Caps and hats are not allowed inside for men and women; however, women can wear hats during the mass.
- During peak seasons, the security lines really get long, with a waiting time of 1 to 1.5 hours; in low season, it is some 30 minutes.
- If you are interested and your schedule matches, you can attend the Pope’s Sunday blessing or Wednesday audience.
- You get audio guides and wheelchair accessibility inside St. Peter’s Basilica with ramps.
- The dome is unsuitable for people with vertigo, limited mobility, heart or respiratory problems, and pregnant women.
- The Vatican grottoes and the necropolis can suffocate, so if you are claustrophobic, be sure to be careful to go in.
- Since the basilica has multiple sections with varied significance, you can take an audio guide or a guided tour for a better understanding and experience.
Contents
Is it worth visiting St. Peter’s Basilica?
St. Peter’s Basilica has multidimensional significance from architectural, historical, and religious perspectives.
Therefore, it can encourage visitors of varied interests to visit and explore it.
It is a storehouse of brilliant architecture and art collections, including paintings and sculptures of beautiful frescoes and mosaics by famous artists like Michelangelo, Lorenzo Bernini, Fontana, etc.
You can see a lot of use of vibrant colors and gold paneling, reminiscent of Renaissance style.
The altar, the tombs, the grottoes, and the necropolis resonate with historical evidence from the 2nd and 4th centuries and the history of the basilica.
For religious visitors, you get to see the altar, St. Peter’s tomb, and the Biblical references that enhance the experience.
It is a wholesome experience, except for the long lines during the high seasons.
However, if you plan it beforehand, nothing can stop you from witnessing this awe-inspiring beauty.
Suggested articles
Featured Image: Britannica.com