Saint Peter’s Basilica/Basilica di San Pietro
Saint Peter’s Basilica/Basilica di San Pietro
Saint Peter’s Basilica/Basilica di San Pietro (Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Rome) – this is the world’s largest shrine to Christianity, located in the heart of Vatican City (the global center of the Roman Catholic Church). With a surface of 22,000 sq. meters, 20,000 followers can pray inside of it. The original church was commissioned by Emperor Constantine in tribute to the martyrized Saint Peter (one of Jesus’ 12 apostles) – where he is buried. Various Popes are buried here as well. During the 15th century, Papal authorities commissioned its enlargement, completed in its present form in 1626. Michelangelo, along with fellow architects Donato Bramante, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini contributed to its design and construction. Admission: Free. Hours: Daily: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Climbing the Cupola: Admission: €7 (via elevator), €6 (via stairs). Hours 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (April – Sept.), 8:00 am – 4:45 pm (October – March).
NOTE (Dress Code): Visitors who are not dressed in the appropriate attire will not be allowed entry into the basilica. Refrain from wearing shorts, short skirts, or sleeveless shirts when visiting Saint Peter’s and/or bring a shawl or other cover-up.
Seeing the Pope
On Sundays at noon, the pope usually appears at the second window from the right of the Apostolic Palace (if he’s in town), to pray the Angelus and bless the crowd in the Square. The current Pope has continued this tradition, no ticket required.
Otherwise, you can attend the Wednesday General Audience held in St Peter’s Square. In winter the audience is held in the Paul VI Hall accessed just to the left of the Square. Tickets are required for the Audience, but are easily obtained. For Papal Event Tickets, go to:
https://saintpetersbasilica.org/touristinfo.htm#tickets
When the Pope is at his summer residence (July and August), the General Audience is held in the Courtyard in the town of Castelgandolfo. He leads the prayer from his study window. Tickets are not required for this event, but at Castelgandolfo (16 miles out of Rome) space is very limited.