What is It – Vatican City is a 106-acre enclave with approximately six hundred residents located within Rome on a small hill along the western bank of the Tiber River. While not declared as a sovereign state until 1929, Catholics around the world have long regarded the site as the capital of Christianity. Roman emperor Constantine commissioned the construction of a church there in 320 AD on top of the necropolis where St. Peter was buried centuries earlier after crucifixion by the emperor Nero. That early church was expanded and eventually replaced in 1626 after popes, architects, and artists from the Renaissance and Baroque periods spent over a hundred years constructing the magnificent Basilica of St. Peter’s. 

The existing St. Peter’s has extensive grounds, auxiliary buildings, and halls. These include the huge Piazza San Pietro, the adjacent Vatican palace, and other halls and chambers used for church administration, papal audiences and record keeping. These buildings are the spiritual center of the church and the places where the pope conducts church services, religious festivals, and other special occasions. 264 popes have presided over church affairs from the Vatican. 

Notable Features of St. Peter’s- The Basilica has many impressive features including the following:

• Dome – Inspired by the domes of the Roman Pantheon and the Duomo in Florence, Michelangelo designed a dome for St. Peter’s that remains the highest in the world today measured by its internal height from the floor. It rises 448 feet about the ground. At the base of the dome high above the church floor are seven-foot-high letters proclaiming the words of Jesus that “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.” Enthusiastic and healthy visitors can arrange to climb a staircase with 537 steps to the top of the dome or take an elevator part of the way. There is carved stonework and mosaics along the way and at the top you will see incredible views of Rome and the church below. 

• Papal Tombs – Below the floor of the Basilica are the graves of ninety-one church dignitaries including more than twenty popes along with cardinals, kings, and queens. Pope John Paul II was buried on the main floor of the Basilica. Two floors below the church is the Vatican Necropolis, a cemetery believed to contain the bones of St. Peter and other early Christians. Tours of the first level of the grottoes are available with  limitations.

• St. Peters Square – The most common entrance to St. Peter’s is through the square where the Pope traditionally addresses the faithful on holy days and on Wednesday mornings in the summer. This large square, designed by the architect Bernini and completed in 1667, is located at the end of a long street called Via Della Conciliazione. It opens into an oval shaped space that is longer than three football fields. The square is surrounded by a colonnade with 284 columns which provide shade and a walkway for visitors. In the middle of the square is an Egyptian obelisk brought to the Vatican in the 16th century and two fountains which symbolize baptism into the faith. The square is designed to hold 20,000 people in seats and 60,000 people standing but almost 200,000 people crowded into the area during the 2013 inaugural mass of Pope Francis. 

• Masterpieces – There are monuments, doorways, sculptures, and tile work all around in the Basilica which are breathtaking in their intricacy and workmanship. One of the most famous masterpieces is the statue of Michelangelo’s Pieta which depicts Mary holding her crucified son. Another is Bernini’s baldachin which is an elaborately sculpted 66-foot-high canopy made of bronze placed beneath the dome of the church which covers the main altar. 

Interesting Facts - Almost half of the territory of Vatican City consists of the Vatican Gardens located behind St. Peter’s. The green lawns, flowers, plants and trees, shrines, and fountains in the gardens provide a place for reflection and rest for Vatican residents and visitors. Small group guided tours of this pristine area can be purchased by advance reservation. 

When to Go – There are often religious events and services underway at the Vatican, so it is important to make sure your plans to visit St. Peter’s do not conflict with any of them. The Basilica itself is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm from April to September and until 6 pm during the rest of the year without any admissions fee. However, the lines sometimes exceed two hours and appropriate dress requirements are enforced. Consequently, many people visit St. Peter’s as part of a scheduled tour to ensure admission and some tours include a visit to the Vatican Museums.