St. Peter's Basilica

About St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica stands over the traditional burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus's apostles and, by Catholic tradition, the first pope. The current building took more than a century to complete, from the early 1500s into the 1600s, and drew on some of the biggest names of the Renaissance and Baroque, including Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini. Michelangelo designed the great dome, which still dominates Rome's skyline, while Bernini shaped much of the interior and the vast elliptical colonnade that wraps around Piazza San Pietro out front. It is one of the largest churches in the world, and standing inside gives you a real sense of that scale.

Inside, the highlights come one after another. Michelangelo's Pieta, carved when he was in his early twenties, sits behind glass near the entrance. Bernini's bronze baldachin rises over the main altar, directly above what is believed to be Saint Peter's tomb. The floor is marked with lines showing how other famous churches would fit within it. The big optional add-on is the dome climb: you can go partway by lift and then take the stairs, or take the stairs the whole way, and the reward is a close view of the interior mosaics followed by a rooftop panorama over the square and the city.

Entry to the basilica itself is free, though security screening means the queue can be long, and there is usually a separate paid ticket for the dome climb. Modest dress is required, so shoulders and knees should be covered for both men and women. The basilica sits within Vatican City, the small independent state surrounded by Rome, and pairs naturally with the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel nearby, though those are a separate paid attraction with their own entrance. Because it is an active place of worship, access can be limited during services and papal events, so it is worth checking current visiting arrangements before you go.