Bucket list experience:
The incomparable St. Peter’s Basilica is the spiritual home of the Catholic Church
Commissioned by the wildly ambitious Pope Julius II, and completed in 1626, few buildings are as recognisable as this enormous, late-Renaissance basilica, majestically situated on St Peter’s Square.
As the burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and, according to tradition, also the first Bishop of Rome and therefore the first pope – it is considered one of the holiest Catholic sites.
This large Baroque bronze canopy rises imperiously above the high altar beneath Michelangelo’s dome. It was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII and finished in 1634 to radiantly mark the tomb of St Peter below.
Michelangelo’s Pieta (first chapel to the right) was completed when he around 24 years old, and was so beautiful and mature that many people believed he couldn’t have done it – which is why it’s the only sculpture he ever signed.
The tiny Clementine Chapel, located in the necropolis underneath the basilica’s grottoes, is believed to be the site where St Peter was crucified in the time of Emperor Nero. His remains are held in a marble chest encased into an opulent, gilded altar.
Tradition has it that St Peter was crucified upside down at his own request, because he considered himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus.
You can now take a fascinating tour of the underground necropolis, which includes the Clementine Chapel, to see St Peter’s bones. Book well ahead (as places are strictly limited to 250/day) with Ufficio Scavi.
St Peter’s Treasury has a number of rare gems, including the Colonna Santa and 6th-century Vatican Cross; the Grottoes, just below the basilica, contain the tombs of popes past along with works of art.
In 1546, age 71, Michelangelo was asked by Pope Paul III to take over the construction of St Peter’s Basilica – at project that had been beset by technical and design challenges, not least the construction of a dome. Painter and sculpture turned architect designed Michelangelo stepped in, and although it was unfinished when he died, he is recognised as the primary architect and installed the foundations for what is still the biggest dome in the world.
For around €10 you can climb the 320 steps to the roof of St Peter’s, and even to the very top of the Cupola (dome) for those postcard-perfect views of St Peter’s Square and Rome’s skyline. If you don’t want to climb steps, there is an elevator. You can’t buy tickets online, and there are always hefty queues – which you can only skip if on a guided tour with Vox Mundi. From St Peter’s Square, follow the pillars anticlockwise until you see the signs for the Cupola.
One level below the Basilica are grottoes housing the tombs of several popes and a few royals. You can reach them by stairs below the St Andrew statue near the papal altar. Another level down, below the grottoes, is an ancient Necropolis, a former Roman cemetery with tombs and mausolea dating from the 1st to 4th centuries AD. It also includes the tomb of St Peter, and (allegedly) his bones.
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Destination Guide >The closest metro stop, Ottaviano-San Pietro, is nine blocks away.
The famous Swiss Guards enforce a strict dress code: no shorts, no skirts above the knee and no bare shoulders. There’s a dress code on this website.
If you want a guide, Vox Mundi run the official guided tours (daily, except Wednesday and Sunday). They also offer audio guides, available from their desk inside the basilica. Access to the Necropolis is limited to 250 visitors a day. If you want to see it, book a spot in advance online on the official tour website. https://book.thevaticantickets.com/book/10479/select/
If you do head up to the Cupola, by elevator or stairs, there’s a café on the roof with gorgeous views over Piazza San Pietro through the gigantic gesticulating statues of saints.
It’s open all year round, seven days a week. July and August are unpleasantly heaving, but there are always crowds. Go at around 1pm when most people are eating lunch, or late in the afternoon.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Rome, Lazio, Italy[1 miles]
An inspired new-wave vibe, pampering spa and hip on-site eateries, the energetic 212-room Mama Shelter is a modern bolthole in Rome’s starchy Prati neighbourhood.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy[1.1 miles]
A sophisticated and chic boutique hotel set on one of Rome’s most beautiful streets in the centre of historic Rome.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy[1.4 miles]
A great value, sleek hotel in a former palazzo that blends old with new, in unbeatably convenient location near Piazza Navona.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy[1.7 miles]
A restored 16th-century convent at the foot of Gianicolo Hill, on the edge of trendy Trastevere.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Lazio, Italy
The Eternal City – 2,000 extraordinary years of glory, greatness and triumph – and decadence, murder and destruction – evidenced by some of the world’s most iconic, must-see monuments and museums.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy[0.1 miles]
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign nation-state and Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church. Within its borders are St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and Apostolic Palace, home to the Pope.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Vatican City, Lazio, Italy[0.3 miles]
A mind-bogglingly opulent complex of museums, home to one of the greatest hoards of treasure, antiquities and art anywhere.
Best for ages: 13+ | £15
Rome, Lazio, Italy[1.9 miles]
A superbly preserved Roman shrine under an astonishing 43m dome, housing the tomb of Raphael. The Pantheon was originally a temple to the Gods, rebuilt by Hadrian in AD 118.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rome, Lazio, Italy[2.3 miles]
A lavish treasure-filled palazzo housing paintings and furniture assembled since the 16th century by the Doria, Pamphilj, Landi and Aldobrandini families. Rome’s most impressive private art collection also includes works by Titian, Guercino, and Caravaggio.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
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Rome, Lazio, Italy[0.9 miles]
Walk the Passetto do Borgo that connects the Vatican with Castel Sant’Angelo, used by Pope Clement VII to flee mercenaries in 1527. It’s only open in July and August; enter via the castle.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rome, Lazio, Italy[1 miles]
This Roman bridge was built in AD 134 by the Roman emperor Hadrian, to provide a scenic access route from the city to his newly built mausoleum, the Castel Sant’Angelo (which later became a fortress, and is now a museum).
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rome, Lazio, Italy[1.5 miles]
Sumptuous 16th-century Roman villa designed by Baldassare Peruzzi and beautifully frescoed by Raphael, in particular the Triumph of Galatea featuring a nymph driving a scallop-shell chariot pulled by dolphins.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
Rome, Lazio, Italy[1.6 miles]
Museum holding one of Italy’s finest archaeological collections – antiquities from the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD including superb sculptures, bronzes and frescoes.
Best for ages: 18+ | £6
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.
