St Peter's Basilica Rome - A Practical Guide
An Introduction For Those Planning On Visiting St Peter's Basilica Rome
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| Via Della Conciliazione Main Approach To St Peter's Where Sightseeing Buses Drop Off |
St Peter's Basilica Rome Official Web Site
St. Peter's was until recently the largest church ever built and it remains one of the holiest sites in Christendom. Contrary to what one might reasonably assume, St. Peter's is not a cathedral - that honour in Rome goes to St. John Lateran.
For the innocent tourist, you will see the famous dome of St Peter ( designed by Michelangelo, who became chief architect in 1546) from far off, so its a natural landmark to head for.
The Via Della Conciliazione is a wide avenue that runs from the River Tiber at St Angelo Fort up to St Peter's Square. This is where all the hop on, hop off sightseeing buses stop.
If you arrive by Metro, you are about 5 minutes walk through typical Rome streets until you come into St Peter's Square directly from the North.
Once you arrive at the square,things start to click. This is the square you've seen on the news, and yes there is the balcony the Pope is seen at.
Once you've got the mandatory photographs, its time to think about visiting. The Vatican Museums where the Sistine Chapel is, is a 5/10 minute walk. If you think the queues in front of you snaking into St Peter's are long, odds are the Vatican Museums are longer and slower moving. So do read our Vatican Museums page and have an informed strategy in place for one of the main reasons you come all this way to Rome.
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| Main Sights Rome |
| Appian Way |
| Borghese Gallery |
| Colosseum + Forum |
| Pantheon + Navona |
| Spanish Steps |
| Trevi Fountain |
| Vatican |
| Hop On Hop Off Buses |
| HoHo Bus Comparison |
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| Open Tour Bus |
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| Rome Guided Tours |
| Tour Overview |
| Vatican / St Peter's |
| Colosseum & Forum |
| Ancient Rome |
| Dan Brown Tour |
| Rome Night Tours |
| Private Car Tours |
| Day Tours From Rome |
| Pompeii Shuttle |
| Naples & Pompeii |
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| Assissi & Orvietoi |
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St Peter's Rome - What There is To See & Do
First of all the dress code is strictly enforced at St. Peter's Basilica. No shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts. This applies to both men and women. Even if you get through security, you will be turned away by the attendants at the door.
On a hot day there will be plenty of men in shorts turned away.
St. Peter's Basilica is open daily, Apr-Sep 7:00-19:00; Oct-Mar 7:00-18:00
When you finally get to the steps of St Peter's you have a choice of options to follow. Most people will go directly into the Basilica which is free to enter.
Even if you an experienced traveler and have visited many such religious places in the world before prepare to be amazed and taken aback by the sheer scale of the interior.
For the detail of what you can see and the history associated with it, click through to the official web site at the top of the page.
Vatican Grottos
The vast underground graveyard or crypt beneath St Peter's Basilica is known as the Vatican Grottoes It houses the tombs of scores of popes; others are buried in the basilica. The tomb of John Paul II is in the grottoes below the floor of the Basilica.
Climbing the Cupola (Dome)
On getting to the steps of St Peter's, one option is signed to the kiosk for the elevator to the roof. (Admission Charge). You can also walk up the stairs around the elevator for a lesser fee, but there is nothing to see along the stairs, and it's a strenuous walk.
Either way you complete the walk up to the Dome from the roof by foot. There are good views from the roof as well as the Dome.
St Peter's Treasury
Contains church ornaments, statues, papal mitres and various objects, usually gifts of kings or princes.
Impressive art collection, (though no photos allowed). Admission Charge
Seeing The Pope
Assuming the Pope is in residence, on Sundays at noon, the pope usually appears at the window to pray and bless the crowd in St Peter's Square. No ticket is required.
Otherwise, you can attend the Wednesday General Audience held in St Peter's Square, advance tickets required
When the Pope is at his summer residence (July and August), the General Audience is held in the Courtyard in the town of Castelgandolfo.
| Summary of Most Popular Tours & Fast Track Tickets In Rome | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vatican | ||
| Vatican Museums Tickets | €40 | Fast track admission to Vatican Museum |
| Vatican Museums inc Sistine Chapel | €60 | 3 hour tour with hotel pickups. |
| Vatican Museums inc Sistine Chapel (Private) | from €87 | Price shown is per person for 9 person group. |
| St Peter's + Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel | €58 | Most popular 3 hour tour. Daily except Sunday. |
| Audience With The Pope | €36 | Attending Wednesday audience with transfers |
| Ancient Rome Walking Tour (Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi...) | ||
| Colosseum & Roman Forum | €52 | Daily half day walking tour, am and pm. |
| Colosseum & Roman Forum (Segway Tour) | €75 | 3 hour tour by Segway machine. |
| Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon,Trevi | €30 | 3 hour walking tour. Morning or Afternoon. |
| Spanish Steps, Pantheon,Trevi, Piazza Navona | €39 | 3 hour afternoon walking tour. Tues,Fri,Sat |
| Villa Borghese Gallery | ||
| Villa Borghese Gallery Fast Track Tickets | €35 | Fast track admission ticket for a 2 hour slot. |
| Villa Borghese Gallery & Gardens Tour | €44 | 2 hour tour of gallery + 1 hour gardens tour. |
| Other Popular City Of Rome Tours | ||
| Dan Brown 'Angels & Demons' Tour | €56 | 4 hr walking tour inspired by the Dan Brown novel |
| Classic Tour Of The Main Sights Of Rome | €38/€90 | Half or Full Day coach tour of main sights |
| Roman Gladiator Lesson | €55-€132 | 2 hour lesson in becoming a Roman Gladiator |
| Night Tours Of Rome (Walking or Bus) | €30/€41 | Choice - walking or coach tour of Rome by night |
| Private Car & Driver | ||
| 4 hour private custom tour of Rome | €210-€378 | Prices are per vehicle. Mercedes vehicles from 1-3 passenger E-class Merceds up to 8 seat Mercedes Vito vans/mini-buses. |
| 8 hour private custom tour of Rome | €378-€567 | |
| * Price from April 2nd 2012 | ||
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