The Saint Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is located in the Vatican City in Rome, Italy. It is built at the exact spot where the Circus of Nero used to be and where the apostle (and very first Pope) Peter was crucified and buried.
It is the first one of Rome’s 7 patriarchal basilicas and is big enough to hold 60 thousand people. There are 395 statues, 44 altars and 35 mosaics to be admired inside Saint Peter’s Basilica.
The present version of the basilica was built between 1506 and 1626. The building’s architectural style is baroque. There was an earlier version of the Saint Peter, which had been commissioned by Constantin the Great and was constructed in 324.
Pope Nicolas V Bernardo Rossolino had already given orders to have this first, by then rather dilapidated church, restored. This came to nothing, however, and in 1506 Pope Julius II commissioned Bramante to demolish the basilica and design a new one.
When Bramante died, Raphael took over. He tore down Bramante’s work construction and changed the latter’s Greek cross into a Latin cross. His successor Antonio de Sangallo held on to Raphael’s floor plan, but did have part of the new basilica restructured.
Michelangelo took over after Sangallo’s death and, preferring Bramante’s original idea, went back to the Greek cross. Everything had to be redone and, even though Michelangelo worked for free, this was extremely costly and the work had to be financed through the sale of indulgences.
Carlo Maderno was the final architect to work on the basilica and he had the nave lengthened, since the church had to become bigger than originally planned. Maderno was also responsible for the facade (but not for the bell-towers).
The facade is adorned with statues of Jesus, John the Baptist and all apostles (except for Judas).
Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed most of the basilica’s interior.
Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica
Daily Mass Schedule: 9, 10, 11, 12AM and 5PM
Sundays and Holiday Mass Schedule: 9, 10.30, 11.30AM and 12.15, 1, 4, 5.30PM.
Saint Peter’s Basilica Practical Information
| Address | Piazza San Pietro |
| District | Vatican City |
| Hotels nearby | Vatican Hotels |
| Telephone | Fax +39 0669885518 |
| Opening Hours | 7AM-7PM (October 1 - March 31: 7AM - 6.30PM) |
| Closed | Sometimes, but not always, on Sunday mornings. Note that St. Peter's is open for tourists during mass, but do try not to be too obtrusive!) |
| Admission | Church free; Crypt and cupola cost money. |
| Public transport | Metro A: Ottaviano; Bus 62, 64. |
| Special Holidays/Events | Too many to mention. |
| Note | Shoulders and knees must be covered when entering churches in Rome. The touts at the subway exit will tell you any lie necessary in order to get you to do their tours, so be careful! |
Directions to the Saint Peter’s Basilica
From Roma Termini to the Vatican City: the quickest way is to take metro line A to the Ottaviano-San Pietro stop. Take the first exit on the left and turn left into the Via Ottaviano. You can also take bus 64, which stops right outside the Vatican City walls, but its speed is dependent on traffic and there are more pick-pockets on the buses of Rome than on the underground.