Are you going to Rome? Don’t miss going to the Vatican to see its monuments and visit the Basilica of Saint Peter!
Located on the right bank of the Tiber at Rome In the enclave of the Vatican and opened on St. Peter’s Square, visit St. Peter’s Basilica to see the most important religious building of the Catholic Church. It is the most emblematic place of Christianity, sheltering the tomb of Saint Peter, the first Pope and the first bishop of Antioch and Rome. Built between 1506 and 1626 at the site of the circus of Caligula and Nero, it is one of the most visited monuments in the world. With its 137-metre high dome, St. Peter’s Basilica is part of UNESCO’s world heritage and is considered to be the most remarkable architectural prowess of the Renaissance.
It is also the largest Catholic church in the world, with its capacity to welcome 60,000 people. Every Sunday, more than 150,000 faithful go there to celebrate the pontifical angel. Every year, millions of pilgrims make the journey to pray and obtain the Pope’s blessing: it is a bit Mecca of Western Christianity. Because of the tourist weakness and for security reasons, it is difficult to visit the Saint-Pierre Basilica: the queue – in the middle of the sun – can be endless.
Visit the Basilica of St. Peter offers to see the façade – monumental in itself – with the statues of Christ and the Apostles, its two clocks, the porch (narthex), the five gates of access to the Basilica and the interior, of a very great wealth, the dome and countless artistic treasures (tombels, relics, works of art and masterpieces of architects). So, what do you see by going to visit St. Peter's Basilica?
Brief History of Saint-Pierre Basilica
At the beginning of the Roman Empire, the site was occupied by villas surrounded by imperial gardens, where Emperors Caligula lived (37-41) and Nero (54-68). The Roman circus they built was the place of martyrs of countless Christians in Rome: destroyed for the construction of the Basilica, the obelisk of the Vatican is the only vestige. The first basilica was erected by Emperor Constantine and Pope Sylvestre I from 326. When the Popes settled in Avignon, the basilica was looted by the Saracens and then the Normans, and fell into disuse over the centuries.
But the construction of the present basilica began in 1506 under the pontificate of Jules II and ended under Urban VIII in 1626. Many architects have succeeded, including Bramante, Raphaël and Michelangelo. It is the latter who designed the great dome that we see today on all the photos of Rome. For the anecdote, it was the construction of the basilica that cemented the foundations of an alternative Christian religion: Protestantism. Indeed, the financing – considered too expensive and extravagant – of the basilica attracted the anger of Martin Luther, who founded Protestantism from 1517. Taking the form of a Greek cross contained within a circle, the basilica symbolizes Christ on 24,000 m2.
What to see at St. Peter's Basilica?
The architecture in itself of the basilica is considered a work of art in its own right. The façade, the dome and the view of Place Saint-Pierre are the most emblematic aspects, but the monument contains wonders. First, the mounted on the dome allows a unique view of the city of Rome. It is accessed by the right of the basilica: you have to climb 231 steps to reach a first level, where you can enjoy a view of the interior of the basilica and the Dôme.
Close stairs lead to the top, along the inner wall of the dome. A third spiral staircase allows, with a rope, to climb to the top, 136.57 meters high (551 steps in total!). The basilica has no bell tower, but has six bells, placed at the level of the clocks on the façade. A long porch extends behind the façade, covered with a stucco arch and marble floor.
Photo credit: Flickr – Mzximvs VdB
On the way to visit the Basilica of St. Peter, there is also a large, unmistakable museum: the historical museum and artistic treasures, where the Pietà de Michel-Ange, the baldaquin of the altar-master – commissioned in 1624 by Urbain VIII, it was sunk with the bronze of the Pantheon fronton – the tomb of Alexandre VII (Gian Lorenzo Bernini), the tomb of the VIII
Then visit the vatica caves: the basilica contains more than a hundred tombs – including those of 148 Popes and the tomb of John Paul II – located in the underground of the building. Finally, finish visiting the Saint-Pierre Basilica by the necropolis: in the second basement, the necropolis is less known to the general public. There are pagan burials dating from the Roman republic (2nd century BC).
How to visit the Saint-Pierre Basilica? (Timetables, rates)
To visit St. Peter’s Basilica, one will not forget that a proper outfit is required, as in all sacred places. So we're not going to visit the Saint-Pierre basilica in stripper and skirt or shorts... Note that the shoulders and knees should be covered as in all religious buildings (mosk, temples, etc.).
The visit of the basilica is free: the wait is not very long, compared to the entrance to the dome that it is paying. You will have to wait between 30 minutes and 1 hour 30 to visit the dome.
The Basilica is open every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from October to March, and every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to September. The Treasury Museum is open from 9 heurs to 6.15 p.m. between April and September and from 9 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. between October and March. Between April and September, Les Grottes vaticanes are open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October to March.
Rates:
- Saint-Pierre Basilica : free admission,
- Switch-file + audio-guide : 19,50€,
- Ascensor of the dome : 8 €,
- Compass stairs: 6 €,
- The Vatican Treasure: 5 €,
- Necropolis : 13 € (on reservation),
- Caves vaticanes : free entry.
Think to book in advance online! If you come to visit the Vatican as a whole, there is a complete guided tour that includes the Vatican Museums, St.Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Learn more about this guided tour of the Vatican .
Main photo credit: Flickr – teldridge+keldridge
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