Visit St Peters Basilica
Ticked off in February 2015
Stand beneath Michelangelo's dome, then climb 551 steps to its top for a view across the whole of Rome.
The adventure
Nothing quite prepares you for the scale. Step through the doors and the nave runs nearly 200 metres ahead, with marble cherubs that look child-sized until you get close and realise they are giants. Beneath the dome, Bernini's twisting bronze canopy rises almost 30 metres over the altar and, it is believed, the tomb of St Peter himself. Just inside the entrance, behind glass, is Michelangelo's Pietà, carved when he was in his early twenties.
Then climb. A lift takes you to the roof, and from there 320 steps wind up between the inner and outer shells of the dome, the walls leaning with its curve until you are walking at a tilt. At the top you step out onto the lantern, and Rome spreads out below: Bernini's colonnade curving around St Peter's Square like open arms, and terracotta rooftops all the way to the hills.
Why it’s epic
- Michelangelo's Pietà is the only work he ever signed.
- Bernini's bronze baldacchino rises nearly 30 metres over the papal altar.
- The cross on top of the dome stands about 136 metres above the ground.
- Beneath the basilica, the Vatican Necropolis can be visited on the guided Scavi tour.
What it is
St Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world, with Michelangelo's dome and his Pietà inside.
How to do it
Entry is free, but queues for the security check can be long, so arrive early. Climb the dome for views over St Peter's Square and Rome.
Top tip
Shoulders and knees must be covered.
Need to know
- Entry to the basilica is free; the dome climb has a small fee, and taking the lift cuts the climb from 551 steps to 320.
- The basilica can close at short notice for papal ceremonies, so check the Vatican calendar.
- The Scavi tour of the necropolis has small groups and must be booked well ahead with the Vatican's Excavations Office.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Best time to go
- October to April for smaller crowds
- Fly into
- FCO airport
Entry is free, so flights and Rome's hotel prices are the main cost.
Do it yourself
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My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
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