St Peter's Basilica Vatican 2023: All Information for Visitors

St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican is probably the most important and best-known church in the world. The cathedral from the 16th and 17th centuries is also one of the largest churches in the world. St. Peter’s can be visited almost every day. Admission is free, except for the ascent to the dome and the entrance to the treasury.

>>> Here are various tickets for St. Peter’s Basilica

Construction and dates St Peter’s Basilica (Vatican)

A church had been standing on the site for a long time. The so-called Constantine Basilica (also called Old Saint Peter) was built in the 4th century. At the end of the Middle Ages this church was increasingly perceived as too small. They decided for a gigantic new building, whose construction time was over 100 years (about 1504 to 1633).

There is a charge for going up to the dome of St Peter’s Basilica. The offer is very limited due to the narrow staircase. Be sure to book in advance on the internet!

Despite this long construction period, the new St. Peter’s Basilica was so expensive that many regions of the Catholic world at that time had to participate in the financing. In some areas of present-day Germany, the money was collected by indulgences (e.g. forgiveness of the sins of the faithful by payments to the church). The sale of indulgences was much criticized and was the most important statement of Luther’s 95 theses, which he made in 1517 at the church in Wittenberg. Thus, according to many historians, there is some connection between the construction of St Peter’s Basilica and the division of the church into Catholic and Protestant (Reformation).

Tickets without queuing St. Peter’s: If you don’t want to queue for hours at the most important church in the world, you can book a ticket with preferential admission (without queuing) incl. audio guide online.

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Due to the long period of the construction of St. Peter’s Cathedral, many popes and builders were of course involved in the gigantic church construction. The two best-known site managers were the painter Raffael and above all Michelangelo. Michelangelo was in charge of the construction site of St. Peter’s Basilica for 17 years from 1547 to 1564. Above all, he designed the gigantic, famous dome.

—>>>> Combination tickets for the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica are available here.

The dome (cathedral) of the Vatican Church

The area inside St. Peter’s in the Vatican is about 15,000 square meters, which is more than two football fields. The cathedral in Rome is “only” the second largest church in the world. Even bigger is the “Cathedral of the Conception of our Lady” in Cordoba (south of Spain) with a gigantic 23,000 m². However, this church was originally built as a mosque and later converted into a Catholic church.

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is 132 meters high (dome). It is thus, magels church tower, not the highest church in the world. This is with 162 meters the cathedral in Ulm – the cathedral in the Vatican is however the highest dome of a church world-wide and the highest self-supporting building from brick of the earth.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica

Visitors to St Peter’s Basilica can only enter from St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. On the right side of the large square you can see the queues of people waiting at the entrance. Depending on the season, the day of the week, the weather and the time of day, the queues are of different lengths. Even on a Wednesday in January we waited about an hour.

Our tip: Buy tickets without queuing on the Internet

Very popular is also a combination ticket Vatican with museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. St. Peter’s Basilica is theoretically free, but there are very long queues. With the ticket you don’t have to queue at the church or at the cash desk in the museum.

>>>> Here you get tickets for the Vatican Museum & St. Peter’s Basilica

Bags are scanned like at the airport. You also have to walk through a scanner. As in a airplane, it is forbidden to take small pocket knives and glass bottles with you. You have the choice to dispose these things in a garbage can or not to go to St. Peter’s Basilica. I had to throw away my Swiss Army Knife and I didn’t get it back.There is charge for going up to the dome. The offer is limited. Be sure to book online in advance!

Climbing the the dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral

There is a charge for going up to the dome. The offer is limited. Be sure to book online in advance!

Once you have passed the entrance, you first come to a room with a wardrobe and a toilet. The next room is the entrance to the dome, but you can also visit the church first and then the dome. The walk up the dome is already worthwhile because of the view to the city of Rome and the huge St. Peter’s Square. But those who are claustrophobic or afraid of heights or are not so good on foot should consider the walk to the dome carefully. The stairs are very narrow in the upper area, the possibility to turn around does not exist.

Tickets without queuing St Peter’s Basilica: If you don’t want to queue for hours at the most important church in the world, you can book a ticket with priority admission (no queuing) including an audio guide on the internet. More information: >>> Click here

The interior of St. Peter’s Basilica

We were overwhelmed by the gigantic size of the building and all the elements like the dome and columns. The basilica in the Vatican seems much bigger and more powerful than other world-famous churches.

The highlight for most visitors is the view from below into the dome. You can walk around freely in St. Peter’s Church and also go into the sacristy. Behind the entrance to the sacristy is the famous list of popes (see picture).

All popes of the last 2000 years

Also in the sacristy, as in all the main sights in Italy, is a shop where books, jewellery, postcards, etc. are sold. The shop has a slightly better than in other sights. The sale of tourist kitsch is largely avoided in St Peter’s Basilica.

In the sacristy there is also the entrance to the treasure chamber of St. Peter’s Cathedral (entrance fee, see below). There is no passage to the large Vatican Museum. If you want to get there from St. Peter’s Basilica, you have to leave the church via St. Peter’s Square and walk along the wall of the Vatican to the Vatican museum (about 1 km).

Some pictures from St. Peter’s Basilica are now in the Pinakothek of the Vatican, in the church are copies.

Admission prices St Peter’s Basilica Vatican 2023

Admission to the church is free. The entrance fee to the dome for adults is 6 Euro (in the beginning of 2019). The entrance fee to the treasury (Tresoro) is about 5 Euro. Prices and other data are from 2018, partly from the beginning of 2019.

>>> More info: Click here

Opening hours Petersdom Vatican 2023

St. Peter’s Basilica is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., in winter until 6:30 p.m. Very early in the morning is a good time to visit the church. Then there is much less going on. Most tourists come after 10 o’clock.

St. Peter’s Basilica in foreign languages

In the tourist language English the church is called in the Vatican St. Peter’s Basilica, in Italian Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and in Latin Basilica Vaticana.

A lot of information about the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica can also be found in the new multimedia animation Welcome to Rome in the city centre.

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St Peter’s Basilica History

St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome, Italy, is one of the largest and most famous churches in the world. It is considered one of the holiest sites in Christianity and attracts millions of visitors every year. The history of St Peter’s Basilica dates back to the 4th century. Century. The first church was built on the site where the tomb of St. Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus, was believed to be.

The first cathedral, built in the 4th century, was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Constantine. This cathedral was destroyed in the 9th century and replaced by a new one in the 16th century. Today’s St Peter’s Basilica was designed in 1506 by the famous architect Bramante, commissioned by Pope Julius II. Bramante’s design was later modified by other architects such as Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno to give the building its own artistic touch.

One of the most famous features of St Peter’s Basilica is the dome, designed by Michelangelo and completed in 1590. The dome is 136 metres high and offers a sweeping view over the rooftops of Rome. The church also houses numerous works of art, including Michelangelo’s famous “Pietà” sculpture, Bernini’s stunning “Baldacchino” and a large bronze canopy over the altar. Another notable feature of St Peter’s is the nave, the central part of the church where the congregation gathers. The nave is lined with chapels, each containing its own work of art, such as the Chapel of the Madonna di Foligno, which contains a painting by Raphael.

Apart from its architectural and artistic wonders, St Peter’s Basilica is also known for its rich history. It is the site of many important events in the history of the Catholic Church, including papal elections, papal coronations and numerous councils.

Visitors to St Peter’s Basilica can also visit the Vatican Grottoes, which lie beneath the church and contain the tombs of many popes and other important figures in the Catholic Church. Access to the grottos is via a staircase near the altar.

In summary, St Peter’s Basilica is a magnificent architectural and artistic work that reflects the rich history of the Catholic Church. It is a must-see for anyone interested in religious history, architecture and art. Whether you are a religious pilgrim or just a curious visitor, St Peter’s Basilica will amaze you with its magnificence and beauty.

St Peter’s Basilica Rome Top 10

Here are the top 10 things to see and do at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Dome:
Climb to the top of the dome and enjoy the panoramic view of Rome and the Vatican City.

Pieta:
Michelangelo’s famous marble statue of the Madonna embracing the body of Jesus.

Canopy:
Above the altar is Bernini’s bronze canopy, considered one of the finest works of Baroque art.

Vatican Grottoes:
Catacombs of many popes and important figures of the Catholic Church, including Pope John Paul II.

Nave:
The central part of the church where the congregation stands is lined with chapels containing works of art.

Chapel of the Madonna di Foligno:
It houses a painting by Raphael, one of the many chapels in the nave.

St Peter’s Square:
The large square in front of the church, designed by Bernini and surrounded by a colonnade of 284 columns.

Vatican Museums:
Containing a collection of Vatican art and artefacts, including the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s famous fresco ceiling.

Tomb of Pope John Paul II:
Pope John Paul II’s tomb is located in the Vatican Grottoes and is a popular place for visitors to pay their last respects.

Papal Audience:
Experience the papal audience with Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square every Wednesday. A visit to St Peter’s is a unique and unforgettable experience. These 10 top attractions and activities will give you an insight into the rich history, art and culture of the Catholic Church.