[2024 Vatican Attraction] Travel Guide for St. Peter's Square (Updated Dec)

After Hours Magic at St. Peter's Square

As the sun sets and the crowds disperse, St. Peter's Square in Vatican takes on a whole new ambiance. The stunning colonnade and the central obelisk light up, casting a golden glow over the square. Take a leisurely stroll around the fountains and admire the breathtaking Basilica in the tranquil atmosphere. Experience the magic of this iconic landmark without the crowds and bask in the peacefulness of St. Peter's Square after dark.

Meeting the Pope

Do you want to attend "meet and greet" with the Pope? Then you definitely have to plan a visit to Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (St. Peter's Basilica) on a Sunday! Of course, the exact "meeting place" is actually the St. Peter's Square at noon and it is best to check his schedule on the website in case he is not in town. However, in the morning, you can also purchase tickets to either walk up the stairs or take elevator to see the dome of St. Peter's. From the dome, everyone attending the Sunday mass looks tiny but you can still hear the singing and sermon very vividly! Spend some time and then gather at the Square to wave to the Pope. #celebratewithtrip #vatican

St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City

Truly the heart of the Vatican City, St. Peter's Square was redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the mid-17th century. It was done under the order of Pope Alexander VII, so that the greatest number of people were able to witness the Pope giving his blessing. The most prominent feature of the Square is the rows of colonnades which give the square an elliptical shape. To have a clearer view, one can go up to the dome to capture this perfectly on camera or own eyes. At the centre of the Square is a massive obelisk from Ancient Egypt and was used to decorate a city in Ancient Egypt. #celebratewithtrip #vatican

The Sanctuary of Art and Religion - Vatican City.

As a huge fan of the Vatican and 'Angels & Demons,' I rushed straight to St. Peter's Square right after dropping off my luggage. The square was filled with chairs, and the LED screen displayed the Pope's public audience schedule. The Swiss Guards, who protect the Pope, stood at the entrance with their long spears. The line to enter the basilica formed a large semicircle around the square, including five winding S-shaped sections. Tour guides from various countries intermittently shared the history of the Vatican with their groups. After an hour of waiting, stepping into St. Peter's Basilica can only be described as 'woooooooow.' Seeing this sanctuary of religious art in person almost brought me to tears. Masters from the Renaissance to the Baroque period contributed to the construction of the church. Bernini's 140 biblical statues surround the square and the basilica, while Michelangelo envisioned the dome as a connection between the church and heaven, allowing heavenly light to flood the church through numerous windows. The tour guide repeatedly mentioned that, due to fire concerns, there are no paintings in the church. All the murals are mosaics, painstakingly assembled piece by piece by artisans over 120 years, involving tens of thousands of workers. Beyond its artistic value, its religious significance is even more profound. Legend has it that Peter's tomb lies directly beneath the church, which is why Michelangelo inscribed the verse 'You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church' at the base of the dome. Many Popes also wished to be buried in the basement rather than in the basilica to be closer to Peter. However, it was also because the Catholic Church needed substantial funds to rebuild St. Peter's Basilica that they began selling indulgences, indirectly sparking public criticism of the church and becoming one of the catalysts for the Reformation in 1517. It is the sanctuary of Catholicism and the starting point of Christianity. The Vatican Museums next to the church were the only pre-arranged and pre-booked visit during my two-month trip. After passing through the crowded Egyptian Museum, the somewhat incomprehensible statues, and the exquisite Gallery of Maps, I finally reached the Raphael Rooms. The most famous room is the Stanza della Segnatura, and seeing 'The School of Athens' in person was very moving. But what surprised me even more was that the three frescoes in the room (The School of Athens, The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, and The Parnassus) each represent philosophy, theology, and poetry, embodying truth, goodness, and beauty. How could anyone conceive of using such complex yet harmonious scenes to illustrate the core ideas of the Renaissance in the Pope's office? The Sistine Chapel was smaller than I imagined, with the most famous works being the ceiling frescoes 'The Creation of Adam' and the altar fresco 'The Last Judgment.' Personally, I preferred the biblical frescoes surrounding the chapel. On the north side, Perugino's Old Testament scenes depict the life of Moses and the Exodus of the Israelites, while on the south side, Botticelli's New Testament scenes portray events from the Baptism of Christ, the Last Supper, to the Passion of Jesus. The entire chapel is like a condensed Bible, from beginning to end, with tourists caught in the middle: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.' After the main exhibits, there is a less conspicuous gallery of cultural artifacts from various countries near the exit, showcasing gifts given to the Pope by different governments. Wandering through it, I found it fascinating how countries from the United States and China to small island nations have developed different cultural beliefs in response to their unique geographical environments and have tried to record their existence in various media using their own languages. The world is vast, yet it feels so small. The museum's collection is extensive, but the quality of the visit is poor, with tour groups from various countries crowding every corner. I envy those who can join tour groups; I also want to hear passionate explanations in Chinese! Finally, I must commend all the staff at the Vatican. They were professional and courteous in their interactions, especially the guide in the Sistine Chapel, who managed the flow of visitors with enthusiasm despite the chaos of tourists ignoring instructions and taking photos. Thank you for the hospitality.

The Vatican at Sunset

Capturing the perfect moment in the world’s smallest country may be what a lot of people are looking for. Often the best time of day to do so is the early evening as the sun is setting to the west over the Basilica, here you get that perfect panorama of the whole area from various angles around St Peter’s Square as people go about their business #vatican #100waysoftravel

Visiting the Vatican City in Rome

A TIP for visiting the Vatican City: 1. Book online in advance for a tour! Good to know more history and background of the church if you’re a avid history fan. And you get to skip the queues!! 2. If you want to avoid big queues try to get there before 10am, or after 3pm. Earlier is generally better. Around lunchtime, in peak season, you’ll be waiting more than an hour to get through security and there’s very little shade, be warned! The queues are always snaking long. I went there at 8am and the queues was till the exit signage but thankfully, the security was pretty efficient so I didn’t get to wait too long and the queue moved pretty fast too! But then, it actually depends on your luck! It will be more crowded during festive periods like Easter Sunday/Christmas! DRESS CODE: no shorts, slippers or tops too revealing that exposes your cleavage etc! you will be denied entry if so. Even if you’re not a Catholic, please respect the religion!

The Holiest square in the world

What an incredible experience it is to visit the Vatican City. No other place on the planet can possibly have this much art and not just any art but the most famous and the most expensive of them. And bea holy center of a religion. It's an experience of a lifetime. Right in front of St. Peter's basilica lays the tall structure of St. Peter's square. A very lively place with hoards of tourists all around it. For a city that receives thousand and thousands of visitors non stop everyday. The size of this square is what it deserves. A popular sight also well known to be where people gather in thousands to see and hear the Pope during special ocassions. #italytrip#vatican #holyland #europe #localguides #historicallandmarks #mytravelhacks #100waysoftravel

The symbol of the Holy See, Saint Peter's Square and Basilica

#europetrip Ever wondered which is the smallest country in the world? The answer is of course Vatican City, which is the seat of the Holy See and the Pope. The Vatican is entered through the Saint Peter's Square with the St Peter's Basilica facing towards the square. It is by now the biggest church in the world, the head of the Roman Catholic Church of the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world. The construction of the Basilica began on 1506 and completed on 18 November 1626. It is also a notable place of pilgrimage and important lithurgical function, and also a site for the Pope to receive special audience. The Pope will be giving an audience every Wednesday and Sunday. The Basilica is built upon the burial site of St Peter, the first disciple of Jesus, and the crypt belowis also the resting place of many Martyrs.

St. Peter's Basilica in Xmas time #urbanexplorer #romeitaly #vaticancity

City within a city

#celebratewithtrip Your trip to Rome won’t be complete without a visit to Vatican City. Home to the St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, Vatican City is the seat of the Holy See. With the world’s largest church, one of the world’s oldest and largest museums of art and the massive, grand St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City is one of the top visitor destinations for visitor to Rome One of the best memories is to Mail a postcard to yourself from the Vatican Post Office. I will recommend to go early as you can easily spend a day here as most of the time will be wasted in the Tip : The only public entrances to the city-state are on St. Peter’s Square and at the visitor’s entrance to the Vatican Museums. #tripblazers #fallingforfall

ANCIENT EGYPT IN THE VATICAN

The obelisk that is visible in St. Peter's Square was taken by Caligula. At the foot of Vatican Hill, Caligula, the Roman emperor, constructed a small circus where charioteers practised and where it is said that Nero executed Christians. Caligula had a pylon that had previously been in Heliopolis transported from Egypt by his troops to serve as the centerpiece of the amphitheater. Over 3,000 years ago, the obelisk was built for an Egyptian king out of a single piece of red granite that weighed more than 350 tons. It was transported to its current site in St. Peter's Square in 1586, where it serves as a massive sundial. #passionpassport #givethanks #gooutside #vatican #rome #italy #ancientarchitecture #history