Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican: photo, description, opening hours, map 2021
Italy is an amazing country that is fraught with many mysteries. Here you can see unique cultural monuments and enjoy incredible sights, one of which is St. Peter's Cathedral. Its history goes back over 5 centuries! We will tell you about its history and architecture, how to get there on your own, how much a ticket costs and about the rules of visiting.
Description
St. Peter's Basilica is located in the heart of the Vatican – a small, dwarf state of Rome. Next to it you can see a huge variety of buildings that are of great historical value, both for this region and for the whole world. From a bird's eye view, against the blue sky, the white domes of the cathedral are visible, as well as its beautiful exterior with statues and stucco.
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Its height is more than 135 meters, length – more than 210 meters. On the facade and in the interior you can see an abundance of statues of Jesus Christ, as well as John the Baptist. In addition, John Paul II rests here, and Michelangelo's marble “Pieta” – the tombstone of the pope – is considered the main masterpiece.
Before entering the cathedral, you can admire the statues of Saints Peter and Paul, located right next to the entrance doors. In the hands of Peter is a bunch of keys that opens the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven, which were given to him by God himself. You can enter the building through several doors, but at different times. So, for example, the last door, which is located on the right side of the cathedral – the Holy one, is opened exclusively on the onset of the Holy year.
In ancient times, when such a year began, people understood this by the sound of a trumpet from a goat's horn called jubilee, from which the year began to be called jubilee. This Holy Door was bricked up with a concrete pavement, and every quarter of a century before Christmas it is reinforced with concrete.
All those present must fall to their knees three times, the hammer blows sound the same number of times, and after that the doors open and everyone enters the cathedral. The first, of course, comes dad together with a cross in his hands. When the anniversary year comes to an end, the doors are also concreted for another quarter of a century.
The central doors are made of bronze, they were made by the Florentine master Filerat. On top of the doors there are two statues depicting the Savior and the Mother of God, in the middle are two apostles – Peter and Paul, and below – the image of Nero's judgment seat and the execution of the apostles. At the top, just above the door itself, there is a bas-relief where Jesus hands Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The sashes that are on the door to the central portal were made back in the 15th century. Opposite the portal itself, you can see the mosaic of Giotto, created at the end of the 18th century – Navicella. On the far left port is the creation of one of the largest sculptors of history – Giacomo Manzu – the Gate of Death. It is also worth noting the image of Pope John the 23rd, which looks incredibly expressive.
The dome of the cathedral is just an incredible masterpiece of beauty, which is about 120 meters high and more than 40 meters in diameter. It is supported by 4 powerful pillars. In one of the niches there is a statue of St. Bernina, whose height is about 5 meters.
Bernini plays a very important role in this cathedral; he worked here for half a century, from 1620 to 1670. Almost under the very dome, Bernini's creation was also placed – a canopy almost 30 meters high, which is fixed on 4 twisted columns, and on them there are statues of angels.
In the branches of the laurel in the upper part, you can see heraldic bees from the Barberini family. The bronze for the ciborium was taken from the Pantheon by dismantling the structures supporting the roof of the portico. Through the canopy, the apse located in the central part, as well as the pulpit of St. Peter created by Bernini, is very clearly visible. In it you can see 4 statues, which, as it were, support the chair where Peter sits, and the Holy Spirit hovers over him, or rather his symbol.
There are many decorations inside the dome, as well as images depicting the Evangelists. They include Matthew with an angel, Mark with a lion, Luke with an ox, and John with an eagle. These three beasts are closely associated with the apocalypse.
On the right side of the cathedral you can see the tombstone of Pope Urban VIII, on which Bernini worked; on the left side – the place where Pope Paul III rests, and his tombstone – the work of which was carried out by Michelangelo's student – Guglielmo della Porte.
The church and dome frieze is a huge number of mosaic inscriptions in Greek and Latin, which talk about how Jesus Christ gives instructions to Peter, as well as the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Ticket price
To truly enjoy visiting the cathedral, you need to have at least 10 euros in your pocket – this price includes the use of the elevator. With an amount a little less – 6 euros, you will have to climb the stairs, there are more than five thousand of them. The climb will take 30 minutes, the same time you will spend on the descent.
Working hours
St. Peter's Basilica is open in summer from 9 am to 7 pm, in winter from 9 am to 6 pm. The cathedral is closed on Wednesday mornings.
Behavior rules
At the entrance you will be met by a man with a metal detector who will check the bags. There is a very strict dress code here, everyone, without exception, must have their hands and feet covered, for women – hats, for men – their absence.
How to get there
The cathedral can be reached by metro and stops right in front of it at Basilica San Paolo station. In addition, you can use public transport – bus or tram. As in all developed European cities, there is a car rental service here, as well as a huge number of taxis.
The Vatican Library is another famous place in the Vatican. – Read more on our website.