{"id":9523,"date":"2022-01-27T09:44:42","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T09:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/st-peters-basilica-rome\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:06:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T13:06:46","slug":"st-peters-basilica-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/st-peters-basilica-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tucked within Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica (San Pietro in Vaticano in Italian) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most important building in Catholicism, and one of the most visited monuments in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u26a0\ufe0f Heads-up!<\/strong> St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most iconic landmarks in Rome, and the line to get in can be incredibly long<\/strong> (we\u2019re talking hours!). It\u2019s best to get up early to beat the crowds. If you’re planning to visit the dome (ticketed), be sure to book your visit in advance: entry to the basilica\u2019s dome + audio-guided tour (several languages available).<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Insider<\/strong> Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top tip:<\/strong> Free guided city tour<\/a> (in English)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodations:<\/strong> all our tips recommendations <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan your stay:<\/strong> the complete guide to Rome<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Rome with children:<\/strong> all our tips<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Brief History of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica in Rome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Who was Saint Peter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

St. Peter (or Simon Bar-Jona, his real name) is one of Jesus\u2019 most well-known disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Catholic tradition, he\u2019s regarded as the “Prince of the Apostles” and the first Bishop of Rome, with all popes considered his legitimate successors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Peter is said to have been one of the victims of Nero\u2019s persecution of Christians in Rome. He was crucified upside down between 64 and 68 AD in the Circus of Caligula and Nero, and was buried in a necropolis near the circus, at the foot of Vatican Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First Version of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica (4th<\/sup> Century AD)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 313 AD, the Edict of Milan, issued by Emperor Constantine, ended the persecution of Christians and ushered in an era of tolerance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constantine ordered the construction of a monumental basilica on the very site where St. Peter was martyred and buried. The altar of this early basilica was built directly above St. Peter’s tomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basilica was consecrated by Pope Sylvester I in 326 AD..<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Charlemagne St. Peter’s Basilica<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On Christmas Eve in the year 800, Charlemagne was crowned \u201cEmperor of the Romans\u201d by Pope Leo III in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To this day, a slab near the entrance marks the exact spot where the King of the Franks knelt to receive his imperial crown. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Second Version of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica (16th<\/sup> Century)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the 4th<\/sup> to the 14th<\/sup> century, the Lateran Palace, next to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, was the official residence of the popes in Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After their exile to Avignon from 1309 to 1377, the popes returned to a dilapidated Lateran Palace and chose to relocate to Vatican Hill near St. Peter’s Basilica, which was also showing signs of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After several failed renovation projects, Pope Julius II decided to demolish the old basilica and build a grand, modern one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction lasted over a century (1506-1626) and saw the involvement of some of the most famous architects of the time: Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta, Carlo Maderno, and Bernini.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basilica was finally consecrated by Pope Urban VII in November 1626.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u26ea St. Peter\u2019s Basilica by the Numbers \u26ea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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– Length: 220 meters
– Width: 150 meters
– Area: 23,000 square meters
– Dome height: 136.6 meters
– Nave height: 46.2 meters
– Dome diameter: 42 meters
– 45 altars
– 11 chapels
– The basilica can hold up to 60,000 worshippers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 It is the largest Catholic church in the world!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Visiting St Peter’s Basilica in Rome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nestled on the stunning St. Peter’s Square, in the heart of Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica is a baroque and Renaissance masterpiece\u2014an essential stop for anyone visiting Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Exterior of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Fa\u00e7ade<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Designed by Carlo Maderno in the 17th<\/sup> century, the fa\u00e7ade is one of the more \u201crecent\u201d elements of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is adorned with two-story Corinthian pillars and columns, and topped with an attic featuring statues of Christ and the Apostles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, take note of the inscription: IN HONOREM PRINCIPIS APOST PAVLVS V BVRGHESIVS ROMANVS PONT MAX AN MDCXII PONT VII (In honor of the Prince of the Apostles, Paul V Borghese, Roman pontiff, in 1612, his 7th year as pontiff<\/em>).
Don\u2019t miss the balcony, from which the Pope delivers his papal blessing (Urbi et Orbi) and where the election of a new pope is announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Narthex<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The narthex\u2014a vestibule\/porch located behind the fa\u00e7ade, linking the basilica\u2019s interior and exterior\u2014is also worth taking a moment to admire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the equestrian statues of Charlemagne (by Cornacchini) and Constantine (by Bernini), as well as the beautiful 13th<\/sup>-century mosaic by Giotto, a remnant from the old basilica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five doors open into the basilica, including the Holy Door (opened only during Jubilee Years, once every 25 years) and the central door, known as the Filarete Door<\/em>, taken from the old basilica. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\u26ea The Four Major Basilicas of Rome \u26ea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St. Peter\u2019s Basilica is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, alongside St. John Lateran<\/a>, St. Mary Major<\/a>, and St. Paul Outside the Walls<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Interior of the Basilica<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Nave<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The massive nave features a central aisle and two side aisles, lined with four colossal pillars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nave is adorned with polychrome marbles and decorated in a rich Baroque style. Numerous chapels, each filled with stunning statues, are scattered throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the floor, you’ll notice markers comparing the lengths of other famous churches, reminding you that St. Peter\u2019s is indeed the largest Christian building in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Statues Tombs<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The basilica is a treasure trove of artistic wonders, from its grand architecture to the many statues and tombs it houses. Some highlights you shouldn\u2019t miss:<\/p>\n\n\n\n