Cities
Italy Rome Vatican City Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica
About

St. Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City, is one of the most iconic religious and architectural landmarks in the world. Commissioned in the early 16th century by Pope Julius II and completed in 1626, the basilica was designed by Renaissance masters including Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini. Its vast interior features Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s Baldachin, and the revered Altar of the Confession, believed to be above the tomb of Saint Peter. The basilica’s dome, a masterpiece of engineering and artistry, dominates Rome’s skyline and offers panoramic views from its summit. St. Peter’s Square, with its sweeping colonnades, serves as a grand forecourt for papal ceremonies and pilgrimages. As a major basilica and spiritual center of Catholicism, it draws millions of visitors annually for worship, art appreciation, and historical exploration. With its fusion of faith, history, and artistic brilliance, St. Peter’s Basilica stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Rome and the Christian tradition.

Rome Italy
Location

St. Peter’s Basilica is located in Vatican City, an independent microstate surrounded by Rome, at Piazza San Pietro. Renowned as one of the holiest Catholic shrines and a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, it was designed by famous architects including Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno. The basilica stands on the traditional burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles and the first pope, making it a major pilgrimage destination. Its monumental dome, soaring 136 meters high, and grand interior can accommodate up to 20,000 visitors. Near the basilica lies the vast and iconic St. Peter’s Square, designed by Bernini, where the Pope often presides over liturgical events. Adjacent to the basilica, visitors will find key Vatican landmarks such as the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes. The area around St. Peter’s also includes quiet Vatican Gardens and the nearby Janiculum Hill, offering panoramic views of Rome. The Ottaviano metro station provides convenient access, linking this spiritual and cultural hub seamlessly with the rest of the city.

Vatican Museums Vatican Museums Rome Capitoline Museums Capitoline Museums Rome Galleria Borghese Galleria Borghese Rome Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Rome Baths of Diocletian Baths of Diocletian Rome Palazzo Altemps Palazzo Altemps Rome Crypta Balbi Crypta Balbi Rome MAXXI MAXXI Rome Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo Rome Museum of the Ara Pacis Museum of the Ara Pacis Rome Centrale Montemartini Centrale Montemartini Rome Museo di Roma Museo di Roma Rome Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Rome Teatro Argentina Teatro Argentina Rome Teatro Brancaccio Teatro Brancaccio Rome Teatro Eliseo Teatro Eliseo Rome Teatro di Marcello Teatro di Marcello Rome Auditorium Parco della Musica Auditorium Parco della Musica Rome Villa Borghese Gardens Villa Borghese Gardens Rome Villa Doria Pamphilj Villa Doria Pamphilj Rome Giardino degli Aranci Giardino degli Aranci Rome Villa Ada Savoia Villa Ada Savoia Rome Parco degli Acquedotti Parco degli Acquedotti Rome Botanical Garden of Rome Botanical Garden of Rome Rome Janiculum Hill Janiculum Hill Rome Campo de' Fiori Campo de' Fiori Rome Porta Portese Market Porta Portese Market Rome Mercato di Testaccio Mercato di Testaccio Rome Mercato Centrale Roma Mercato Centrale Roma Rome Trionfale Market Trionfale Market Rome Mercato dell’Unità Mercato dell’Unità Rome Galleria Borghese Galleria Borghese Rome Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna Rome Palazzo delle Esposizioni Palazzo delle Esposizioni Rome Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome Rome Chiostro del Bramante Chiostro del Bramante Rome Roseto Comunale Roseto Comunale Rome Pincian Hill Gardens Pincian Hill Gardens Rome Villa Torlonia Gardens Villa Torlonia Gardens Rome Castel Sant’Angelo Castel Sant’Angelo Rome Palazzo Venezia Palazzo Venezia Rome Palazzo Quirinale Palazzo Quirinale Rome Palazzo Farnese Palazzo Farnese Rome Palazzo Barberini Palazzo Barberini Rome Palazzo Spada Palazzo Spada Rome Palazzo Doria Pamphilj Palazzo Doria Pamphilj Rome Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano Rome Santa Maria Maggiore Santa Maria Maggiore Rome San Paolo Fuori le Mura San Paolo Fuori le Mura Rome Pantheon Rome Pantheon Rome Rome Santa Maria in Trastevere Santa Maria in Trastevere Rome San Clemente San Clemente Rome San Luigi dei Francesi San Luigi dei Francesi Rome Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Rome Santa Maria sopra Minerva Santa Maria sopra Minerva Rome Museo dell'Ara Pacis Museo dell'Ara Pacis Rome Museo della Civiltà Romana Museo della Civiltà Romana Rome Mercati di Traiano Mercati di Traiano Rome Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia Rome Museo Napoleonico Museo Napoleonico Rome Keats-Shelley House Keats-Shelley House Rome Museo Leonardo da Vinci Experience Museo Leonardo da Vinci Experience Rome Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio Museo delle Anime del Purgatorio Rome Museo Barracco Museo Barracco Rome Galleria Corsini Galleria Corsini Rome Galleria Doria Pamphilj Galleria Doria Pamphilj Rome Fondazione Memmo Fondazione Memmo Rome Galleria Lorcan O’Neill Galleria Lorcan O’Neill Rome Gagosian Gallery Rome Gagosian Gallery Rome Rome Z20 Gallery Z20 Gallery Rome Monitor Monitor Rome Pastificio Cerere Pastificio Cerere Rome Monte Mario Observatory Monte Mario Observatory Rome

User attributes