St. Peter's Basilica is the greatest Christian church in Rome.

Italy is amazing country, which 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 more than 5 centuries! We will tell you about its history and architecture, how to get there on your own, how much a ticket costs and the rules of visiting.

St. Peter's Basilica is located in the heart of the Vatican - the small, dwarf state of Rome. Next to it you can see great amount various buildings that carry enormous historical value, both for this region and for the whole world. From a bird's eye view, the white domes of the cathedral are visible against the blue sky, as well as its beautiful exterior with statues and stucco.

Where to go for 1 day from Rome? - more details on our website.

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 the main masterpiece is considered to be Michelangelo’s marble “Pieta” - the tombstone of the pope.

Before entering the cathedral, you can admire the statues of Saints Peter and Paul, located right next to the entrance doors. In Peter's hands is a bunch of keys that open the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven, which God himself handed to him. 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 Door - is opened exclusively at the onset of the Holy Year.

In ancient times, when such a year began, people understood this by the sound of a goat's horn trumpet called jubilee, from which the year began to be called jubilee. This Holy Door was walled up with a concrete covering, and every quarter of a century before Christmas it is concreted.

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. Dad, of course, comes in first, holding 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 mother of god, in the middle are two apostles - Peter and Paul, and below is an image of the judgment seat of Nero and the execution of the apostles. At the top, above the door itself, there is a bas-relief where Jesus hands Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

The doors that are on the door to the central portal were made back in the 15th century. Opposite the portal itself you can see Giotto's mosaic, created at the end of the 18th century - Navicella. On the far left port is the creation of one of the greatest sculptors of history - Giacomo Manzu - The Doors of Death. It is also worth noting the image of Pope John the 23rd, which looks incredibly expressive.

The dome of the cathedral is simply an incredible masterpiece of beauty, its height is about 120 meters and its diameter is more than 40 meters. It is supported by 4 powerful pillars. In one of the niches there is a statue of St. Bernina, which is about 5 meters high.

Bernini plays a very important role in this cathedral; he worked here for half a century, from 1620 to 1670. Almost under the 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 at the top 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 one can clearly see the Cathedral of St. Peter, located in the central part of the asp, as well as the one created by Bernini. In it you can see 4 statues that seem to support the chair where Peter sits, and the Holy Spirit, or rather his symbol, hovers above him.

Inside the dome there are many decorations, 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 the Eighth, which Bernini worked on; on the left side is 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 steps, there are more than half a thousand of them here. The ascent will take 30 minutes, and the same time will be spent descending.

Working hours

St. Peter's Cathedral is open in summer from 9 am to 7 pm, in winter from 9 am to 6 pm. On Wednesday mornings the cathedral is closed.

Behavior rules

At the entrance you will be greeted by a person with a metal detector who will check your bags. There is a very strict dress code here; everyone, without exception, must have their arms and legs covered, for women - hats, for men - no hats.

How to get there

The cathedral can be reached by metro and stops directly opposite it at the Basilica of San Paolo station. In addition, you can use the city transport - bus or by tram. Like all developed European cities, there is a car rental service here, as well as a huge number of taxis.

The Vatican (Latin name Status Civitatis Vaticanæ, Italian - Stato della Citta del Vaticano) is an independent state. The sources also contain the name Vatican City State. It is the smallest officially recognized state in the world. In international law, the Vatican has the status of an auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See and the residence of the highest spiritual leadership of the Roman Empire. catholic church.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Vatican is a building. However, this is not true. The Vatican is a separate territory on which St. Peter's Basilica, the large central St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, papal gardens and a complex of buildings consisting of museums, palaces, houses, administrative and utility buildings. In addition, on the territory of the Vatican State there is a helipad, its own Vatican or as it is also called the papal post office, several gas stations, the oldest pharmacy in the world, a fire station, a library, a supermarket and even the shortest Railway in the world.

All this is surrounded by the Vatican wall. From the outside, the wall looks more like residential buildings, perhaps because the houses stand close to the wall, or maybe because the wall is these houses. The total length of the wall and, accordingly, the state border of the Vatican is only 3.2 kilometers. Imagine what a dwarf state this is!

Geographically, the state is located in Rome, so it is like a state within a state, a city within a city. Located on Vatican Hill in the northwestern part of Rome, a few hundred meters from the Tiber River. To visit the Vatican you do not need to obtain any additional special visas or permits. If you are in Rome, you can easily visit the Vatican. Of course, you won’t be allowed into the gardens or on the territory of the papal estates, but going to St. Peter’s Basilica or strolling through the largest museum complex in the world, which is formed by the Vatican palaces, is quite possible.

Residents of the Vatican also have the corresponding Vatican citizenship. It would be more correct to say that they have dual citizenship - the Vatican and their own, where they come from. Obtaining Vatican citizenship is quite difficult, it is even impossible for an ordinary person, since Vatican citizenship is received only by the highest ranks of the Catholic Church from the pope's entourage. Even official residents of the Vatican are not all citizens.

The main Vatican Cathedral rises majestically above the state. It can be seen from many points in Rome.

The complex of Vatican buildings, which we can see from St. Peter's Square, has beautiful architecture with figures and patterns made of stucco.

St. Peter's Square

Arriving at the Vatican, the first place you come to is St. Peter's Square, also called Piazza San Pietro (Italian name Piazza San Pietro). The area is the largest and central area not only the Vatican, but all of Rome.

This area is of enormous size in the form of two symmetrical semicircles. Along the perimeter on both sides, the square is framed by semicircular colonnades of the Tuscan order, designed by Giovanni Bernini himself.

In the center of the square is a monument of architecture and history, a tall twenty-five-meter Egyptian obelisk.

Services and ceremonies take place in the square. The head of the entire Catholic Church, the Pope, takes part in many of them.

During services, chairs are placed on the square, and the entrance to the square is strictly through security and metal detectors.

Here, in the central Catholic square of the world, crowds of believers gather to listen to the speeches of the pontiff. And we did not ignore this spectacle; we attended one of the services on Sunday. There was just so many people of all ages gathered, it was impossible to squeeze through.

Service procession

Central and most beautiful building square is St. Peter's Basilica or St. Peter's Basilica (Latin name Basilica Sancti Petri, Italian - Basilica di San Pietro). This is the main one Catholic cathedral world, central and most large building Vatican, as well as the largest historical Christian church in the world.

The cathedral is a great and significant monument of architecture and history of the Renaissance. The greatest masters of all times worked on its creation - Raphael, Michelangelo, Bramante and Bernini.

Cathedral of St. Petra was officially recognized as the greatest creation of world architecture.

After you visit St. Peter's Square, the most beautiful St. Basilica appears before you. Petra. The cathedral is located right on the square, being the most beautiful and main structure of the square. It is here that thousands of tourists and pilgrims flock every year.

The entrance to the Cathedral is here, on the right side of the square. To get inside the Temple, you need to stand in a long line, sometimes the line goes around the entire square. But don’t worry, the line moves quite quickly. Despite the large crowd of people, we stood for only 15 minutes. When entering the Cathedral, you go through a metal detector and security; the security does not allow people with bare shoulders, both men and women, to pass through. It’s customary to enter a Catholic church only with covered shoulders. In front of us, several young people in T-shirts were turned back. I was also wearing a T-shirt, but the people standing in line with us warned us in time and we bought a scarf in a nearby store.

Representatives of travel agencies scurry around the square and offer to take you to the temple and museums without queuing for money - 20-25 euros. A deception, of course, designed for an ignorant tourist. Entrance to the cathedral and museums is already free; although there seem to be a lot of people, the queue moves quickly. So it's not worth paying them money.

St. Peter's Cathedral is huge and majestic, with many richly decorated halls, decorated with mosaic patterns, stucco, gilding and high semicircular vaults. When you go inside, everything you see is simply breathtaking; it’s very difficult to describe what you feel. This is enthusiastic joy, admiration, surprise, and a certain thrill from personal touching one of the greatest creations of man, concealing within itself the spirit of past centuries. This is not a program for you to watch on TV...

The Basilica contains many altars, tombstones and statues, as well as many wonderful works of art.

For an additional fee you can climb the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica. To do this, you need to exit the Cathedral and on the right side there will be an entrance to the dome. Entrance is paid, you can go up on foot, it costs 5 euros per person, or you can take the elevator part of the way, paying 7 euros per person. We, of course, went on foot.

Be sure to go up to the dome, it's worth it!!!

First, the ascent is carried out along a wide and spacious staircase. Then you go out onto the open terrace, part of the path has been covered. The elevator also arrives here. Then everyone walks. There is also a souvenir shop where you can buy magnets, sculptures and other goods with the symbols of the Vatican.

Further, along the spiral staircase encircling the dome, the ascent is carried out to the dome of the Cathedral itself. The staircase becomes narrower and acquires a slope characteristic of the dome shape. And at first you walk straight, and then you have to bend.

Having climbed right under the dome, you can see up close the vault of the dome decorated with paintings, and also look from above at the halls of the Cathedral, simply beautiful. Note that the dome of the Cathedral rises to a height of 136.57 meters from the floor of the basilica to the top topped with a cross, this is the tallest dome in the world.

Having admired the architecture of the dome, we go out into the open observation deck.

Papal, Vatican Gardens

We went out to the observation deck of the dome of Peter's Cathedral. And here the most beautiful panorama of the Papal Gardens opens up to your eyes, they are also called the Vatican Gardens.

These gardens are among the most protected places in the world. These are the most beautiful gardens in Europe and a place where you can relax, of course, only for a select few))

In the gardens you can see many lawns, fountains and greenery. And of course, residences and administrative buildings. Just imagine, in the morning, when the sun is not yet high and not so warm, dad or someone else leisurely walks along the alleys of the gardens with a cup of hot aromatic coffee in their hands, admiring the fountains, listening to the water gurgling in them and the birds singing, and there is silence all around, peace and tranquility...

In addition to the gardens, the dome offers an equally beautiful view of Rome.

We spent a long time looking for the chimney from which smoke comes out when choosing the next monarch. We saw only one pipe in the area. It seems that this is the very pipe from which, when choosing a new Pope, if the meeting of cardinals comes to a unanimous opinion, smoke comes from the burning ballots, indicating the results of the vote. Moreover, if the decision is not made, then the color of the smoke is black, and if it is accepted, and the pope is elected, then it is white. After all, voting is a secret and closed procedure, and only through smoke can one learn about the election of the Pope.

Papal Post or Vatican Post

In the square, to the right of St. Peter's Basilica, there is the Vatican post office. This is one of the most reliable and fastest mail in the world. The delivery time for letters anywhere in the world is 24 hours.

You can go to the post office to select a postcard and, for an additional fee, send news from the Vatican to your friends or acquaintances. The Post Office delivers approximately 8.5 million letters and postcards annually.

The post office also sells commemorative stamps. Commemorative stamps are issued for various occasions - the election of a new pope, holidays, in honor of Vatican Day, the birthday of the Pope and other similar events. The sale of stamps is the main and very profitable activity of the papal post office.

Now we will tell you a little about other places that are also located in the Vatican. Naturally, no one would let us get inside, so there are no photographs. Entrance to these places is only with special passes issued strictly to citizens of the Vatican, and even then not to everyone. Why? Yes, because the prices there are amazingly low, and the quality is amazingly awesome.

Vatican Pharmacy

The Vatican Pharmacy is the oldest in the world and is located near the Porta Sant'Anna. It is in this pharmacy that you can find the rarest medicines in the world. Medicines are available by prescription.

Since there are no taxes in the Vatican, the cost of all medications in the pharmacy is 12-25% lower than in other pharmacies in Italy and Europe. Medicines are sold here as if under a duty free system.

Thanks to low prices and a large assortment of rare and unique drugs, the pharmacy is very popular among the residents of Rome, but obtaining permission to visit it is not easy for persons not related to the Vatican. Such a permit is issued only if the required medicine is not available in pharmacies in Italy or another European country and the applicant has a prescription for it. To obtain permission to purchase medicines at a pharmacy, one prescription is not enough; you must also fill out a certain application and, in addition to the prescription, present a passport or other identification document. For the highest church clergy and Vatican employees, such permission, of course, is not required.

Vatican Supermarket

There is only one supermarket in the Vatican, but it's a great one. The quality of the goods is high, and the prices are much lower than in other stores in Rome. But only people with a special DIRESCO pass issued by the city governor have the right to visit and shop in this supermarket.

Vatican trading house

The Vatican Trade House is located in the building of the former railway station. Entry is also limited. In a trading house, in our opinion mall, you can find a wide range of electronics and expensive watches. As in the supermarket, all goods of the trading house are 20-40% cheaper than outside the Vatican territory.

Gas stations in the Vatican

There are several gas stations on the Vatican territory. I think you have already guessed that only people close to the Pope with special permission can use them, and fuel prices are 30-35% cheaper than in all of Italy.

This time we didn’t manage to get into the Vatican Museums; by evening we were already tired. Next time we will definitely visit all the museums and tell you about them on the pages of this blog. If you are planning your trip to Rome, then set aside a couple of days for the Vatican. Since it is so beautiful and unusual that one day will not be enough to perceive it, and running around just to get everything done, you will agree, is not the best idea.

Two thousand years ago, when Nero ruled Italy, there was an amphitheater here, in which many Christians died. In 67, the Apostle Peter was captured, tried, sentenced to death, and brought here. He, not wanting to die exactly the way Christ died, asked to be executed by a different method. They crucified him upside down and buried him not far from the place of death. And three centuries later, a structure was erected at the place of his burial - St. Peter’s Cathedral is now located there.

St. Peter's Cathedral is located in the Vatican, in the northwestern part of Rome, the capital of Italy (on the map the temple can be found at the following coordinates: 41° 54′ 7″ N, 12° 27′ 11″ E).

This cathedral is the largest church in the Vatican and until recently was the largest Christian church in the world: the area exceeds 22 thousand square meters, height - 133 m, length including the portico - almost 212 m. The basilica is designed for 60 thousand believers, The square located in front of the cathedral can accommodate another four hundred thousand Christians.

The size of this temple is exceeded only by the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Peace, built in 1990 in Yamoussoukro, the capital of Cote’d Ivoire, with an area of ​​about 30 thousand square meters. m. True, despite its enormous size, it can only accommodate 18 thousand parishioners.

History embodied in stone

Erected by order of Constantine, the basilica had a rather modest appearance, for a long time did not differ in anything special and stood for eleven centuries. Until in 1506 the Pope ordered on the spot old church, whose age exceeded eleven centuries and was in disrepair by that time, to build St. Peter's Cathedral.

The structure would eclipse not only everything pagan temples, but also already existing Christian churches, becoming at the same time the center of Catholicism and a symbol of the power of the pontiff. The fact that it was in this place that the Apostle Peter found his martyrdom played an important role in the choice of the high priest.

The best sculptors, architects and artists from all over Italy were invited to build the temple. Considering that the construction of the cathedral dates back to the Renaissance, during which such artists as Michelangelo, Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini and other famous personalities lived and worked, it is not surprising that the plan was one hundred percent successful.

Throughout the entire construction (and in total it lasted more than one century), different people were responsible for the work, who constantly made fundamental changes to the layout of the temple, which had a serious impact on the architecture of this temple:

• The first architect of the cathedral was Donato Bramante - he proposed to build a temple whose shape would be similar to a Greek cross with equal sides (construction work began in 1506)
• When he died, Raphael Santi was appointed architect, who modified the plan, giving the temple the shape of a Roman cross (with a longer fourth side).
• The next architect, Baldassare Peruzzi, preferred the original plan.
• But Antonio da Sangallo supported the idea of ​​the second architect.
• Michelangelo began working on the cathedral in Italy in 1546. He returned to Bramante’s original plan, but still modified the project: he provided for a portico with a huge number of columns in the east of the building, made the load-bearing structures more massive and defined the central space (what the basilica looked like in Michelangelo’s time can be seen from the western side of the temple). Also Michelangelo managed to build the drum of the main dome, the construction of which had to be completed by the next architect, Giacomo della Porta (he gave the dome a more elongated shape). Michelangelo planned to surround the main dome with four smaller ones, but the architect Vignola decided to build only two, placing them on either side of the central one.
• Carlo Maderna at the beginning of the 17th century. By order of Pope Paul V, returning to the Roman version, he increased the length of the cross on the eastern side. He also erected a facade 48 m high (without sculptures) and about 120 m wide, completely hiding the dome, which had lost its dominant position. At the top of the facade were six-meter-tall sculptures of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and almost all the apostles, except Peter.
• Quite soon, due to the huge influx of believers, it became obvious that it was necessary to build a square in front of the cathedral. The construction work was entrusted to Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini.

Temple doors

In front of the central doors there are sculptures of the apostles Paul and Peter, in whose hands are the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Five bronze doors lead into the temple.

Moreover, the outermost one, located on the right, is walled up and is opened only once every 25 years, on the Holy Year, on the eve of Catholic Christmas(at this time there is the possibility of remission of the most serious sins). When this year ends, the holy doors are sealed with concrete again.

In the central part of the main doors, Paul and Peter are depicted, above them are Jesus and Mary sitting on a throne. Below are fragments depicting the trial and execution of Christ's ascetics (Peter was crucified upside down, Paul's head was cut off). Above the doors is a bas-relief by Bernini made of marble with the inscription: “Jesus hands Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.”

What does the temple look like from the inside?

Inside, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome surprises with its incredible size and extremely rich design - there is a huge number of statues, columns, altars, tombs, which were made by the most eminent masters of their time.

One of these masterpieces is the Lamentation of Christ (Pieta), a marble sculptural composition by Michelangelo, the only sculpture by the master that was signed by him.

Michelangelo's composition is a statue of Mary, which the sculptor depicted as a young woman, on whose lap lies the dead Savior. To all the questions of his contemporaries why the mother of Jesus was so young, Michelangelo answered that the mother of God does not age.

Inside the temple there is an altar with lamps that never go out, from which only the Holy Father has the right to celebrate Mass. They placed this altar in the same place as the previous one, which was once installed over the grave of Peter ( interesting fact: despite the accepted canons, it faces not east, but west). A small “window” was cut into the floor next to it, through which you can see the grave of St. Petra (that it really exists there was proven by excavations carried out in the forties of the last century).

Under the dome of the temple above the central altar there is another masterpiece of Bernini (in the middle of the cathedral there are many of his sculptural works): a bronze canopy (ciborium) 29 m high - it is located on four columns, where figures of angels are installed. The pulpit of St. is visible through the ciborium. Peter is the chair of the apostle, which is supported by sculptures of the four Holy Fathers, and the Holy Spirit hovers above their heads.

Near the altar there is a bronze sculpture of St. Peter sitting on the papal throne, in whose hands are the keys to heaven. Every Catholic considers it their duty to touch his foot - many believe that if you sincerely ask for the fulfillment of your desire, it will certainly come true.

Temple dome

The dome of St. Peter's Cathedral is the tallest in the world: its height from the outside is almost 137 m, from the inside - 119 m, and its diameter is 42 m. On the dome's vault you can see images of the evangelists with animals, which in the "Revelations" of John the Theologian were near the throne of God : near Mark - a lion, Luke - an ox, John - an eagle. But Matthew is depicted with an angel who guided his hand while writing the Gospel.

There are two ways to get to the top of the dome: first, take the elevator to its lower part, and then climb 320 steps. Or do without a lift and climb an additional 231 steps. At first the climb is quite easy: the steps are low and it’s easy to climb, and the only thing that causes discomfort is the constant movement in a circle, which makes you feel dizzy.

Then the climb becomes more difficult: the steps gradually become smaller, steeper and narrower, and at the very top the width between the opposite walls is not even a meter. Anyone who finds the strength and can reach the goal will not regret it - the panorama of Rome and the Vatican that opens before him will not leave anyone indifferent.

Rome is a tourist Mecca, the “capital of the world.” There is no need to look for unique attractions here; they are literally at every step. Some of the main ones are Piazza and Basilica of San Pietro - area and Cathedral St. Peter's. Our article is about them.

Academic information about a tourist site is an obligatory part of any excursion (where would we be without it?) - we have specially highlighted it in color. The information will be useful if you visit the cathedral and square yourself “live”. We hope these and our other tips will help you get to know the Italian capital better.

Save information that interests you on your phone/tablet. Or just print it out and take it with you.

Rome's calling card

Word from guide Svetlana:

“Piazza San Pietro is one of the largest in Europe, measuring 240 by 360 m. But it is located in one of dwarf states- The Vatican. Square near St. Peter's Basilica - architectural masterpiece medieval master Bernini. You can reach it by walking along the street. Concordia (via Concigliazione), the perspective of which offers a classic view of the ensemble of the square and the cathedral. This grandiose and magnificent building is today one of the main “business cards” of Rome and all of Italy.

The oval of the square, almost a quarter of a kilometer in size, is framed by the semicircle of the majestic colonnade made by Bernini (1656-1667). The colonnade complex consists of 284 Tuscan style columns. Above them are 140 figures of holy martyrs. 2 majestic symmetrical fountains are located on both sides of the square, they were created by the Moderno architect. In the center of Piazza San Pietro is a huge ancient Egyptian obelisk dating back to the 1st century BC. It was brought to Rome by order of Emperor Caligula to decorate the circus, and in 1586 the obelisk was erected in the square. The installation took more than 4 months of work and the labor of almost 1000 people. In addition, the column is an active gnomon - an instrument for astronomical observations."

The square is a place of pilgrimage not only for tourists, but also for believers. On Wednesdays at 11 o'clock in the afternoon the Pope preaches here. If you face the cathedral, right next to its portico on the right is the façade big building with many windows. The topmost windows on the right are the personal chambers of the Pope.

In the square, it is interesting to watch the ceremony of changing the guard of the Vatican guards, whose uniform has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. The costume designer was none other than Michelangelo. The Vatican Post Office, located on the square, is not only a tourist attraction, but also a great opportunity to send a postcard to yourself or your loved ones - get an original souvenir from Rome and the Vatican! By the way, it’s not at all difficult to be in these 2 geographical points at the same time. You just need to cross white line, which encircles the area. The inner space is the territory of the independent Vatican, the outside is the Italian Republic.

Don’t forget to take a photo when crossing the border between two countries in one city without a visa.

St. Peter's Basilica: the main cathedral of Christians

Word from guide Svetlana:

"For the construction of the Basilica of St. Peter's Church began in 324, it was intended to rest the remains of the custodian of the Christian faith. Over the centuries, this majestic structure was rebuilt many times. The great Bramante, Raphael, Peruzzi, Michelangelo worked on its creation.

It was Michelangelo who designed, based on Bramente's drawing, partially changing it, the giant drum of the dome (1507), inspired by the dome of the Florence Cathedral. In the next century, Moderno lengthened the naves of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, transforming the layout into a Latin cross and creating a magnificent façade in 1614.

The cathedral is preceded by a portico, under which there are 5 doors, the last one on the right is the Porta Santa (Sacred Gate). It is opened only on the occasion of the Jubilee Year. In the center is Porta Filareta with bronze reliefs, the last one on the left is Porta della Morte - the Door of Death.

Entering the cathedral, you will be surprised not only by its rich decoration, but also by its internal dimensions: the length of St. 210 m, the width of the transept is 137 m, the height of the middle nave is 44 m, the total height of the dome is 136 m. Such a large structure as the famous Cologne Cathedral can easily fit inside.”

The premises of St. Peter's Cathedral itself are so large, and there are so many people in it, that it is not surprising to get lost and fall behind the group. Not everyone will be able to navigate this space either. The use of mobile phones is not recommended. Therefore, during any excursion it is better to stay together and not disperse to each side.

1. When entering the cathedral, please adhere to the dress code. Do not take bulky bags, do not wear shorts, short skirts, and do not bare your shoulders.
2. Men take off their hats, and women cover their heads with a scarf.

Word from guide Svetlana:

“The central nave of San Pietro is supported by 8 huge pilasters, the vault above which is decorated with gilded coffers. At the last right pilaster there is a bronze sculpture of St. Peter. It is dated to the 2nd floor. 13th century and is attributed to the work of di Cambio. In the nave on the left is the tomb of Pope Innocent 8, in the right (1st chapel) is the famous Pieta (Lamentation of Christ), created by 25-year-old Michelangelo in 1499. This is what this statue is about. Great master He said that there are no difficulties in creating it, you just need to cut off everything unnecessary from a block of marble.

Other important architectural objects of the cathedral are the papal altar with the Confession of Moderno work, they are located directly under the dome, next to the tomb of St. Peter. Above the altar group is a luxurious bronze canopy on spiral columns - a masterpiece of the architect Bernini.”

Visiting the square and the Basilica of San Pietro is free. By the way, admission to all churches in Italy is free, because... they are active religious institutions. Opening hours: from 7 am to 18-19. It’s easy to get tired walking around the square, but you won’t see any benches here or nearby. The solution to the problem is to go into the cathedral, find benches (a place for prayer): you can sit on them and relax.

Reviews from the Internet convince us that visiting the square and St. Peter's Cathedral is a must. But those who were in the cathedral and climbed to the observation deck of the dome write:

“I recommend doing this only to healthy people. If you have a bad heart or legs, it’s better not to try to climb the dome, even for 7 euros in the elevator. You will still have to walk the rest of the way. You will also waste time standing in line at the cash register. Allow at least an hour for the climb. It will take about the same time to descend.”

On the roof of the cathedral you can not only admire the bird's eye view, but also look into the souvenir kiosk and use the highest payphone in the Vatican. Italians joke that it is convenient for calling God.

Thanks to modern technologies and webcams, it is now possible to take a video tour without leaving your home and get a first impression of Rome, the Vatican, the square and St. Peter's Basilica. Real-time pictures from world famous attractions:

• View of the cathedral: http://tvjoy.ru/index.php?page=1364506099
• View of St. Peter's Square: http://tvjoy.ru/index.php?page=1364505728

Ensemble of St. Peter's Cathedral: tourist center, way to get there

It is known that living near attractions saves time, money, and effort on visiting them. You can find accommodation in Rome anywhere and for any budget. A hotel in the Vatican area is a thoughtful decision, because... it is located near the western border of the center of Rome with most of the interesting sites. On the map, the center is limited to the north by Villa Borghese, to the east by the Tiber River, to the west by the Tiber River, and to the south by the Colosseum.

To have all the attractions at your fingertips, choose hotels in the center of Rome. In heart Eternal City There are a huge number of different hotels, ranging from five-star hotels to home hostels. We have described the 5 most suitable accommodation options in the Italian capital. Which one is the most convenient is up to you to decide!

From St. Peter's Square you can walk to the Castel Angelo, crossing the Tiber Bridge and exit onto the main street of the city center, Corso Victor Emmanuel. If you travel in this direction on foot, by metro or by tourist bus, you will not miss the main attractions.

Take advantage of the red European excursion buses. Tickets are sold at the terminal - at Termini station, address st. Marsala, 7 and at Largo Di Villa Peretti, 1. Children's tickets are available - up to 15 years. There are stops along the route, you can get off and then take the next bus.

Bramante's works are continued by Raphael, Michelangelo Buonarroti, as well as a tandem of specialists - Domenico Fontana and master Giacomo della Porta. The latter built two domes based on Michelangelo's design. Carlo Maderno then completed the chapels and decorated the façade. Only in 1626, on November 18, Urban VIII consecrated the cathedral in honor of the 1300th anniversary of the first basilica.

The altar was put back in its original place, and a confession was cut into the floor, through which visitors could directly access the tomb of Peter. The tomb itself is located exactly under the altar, in the Roman necropolis. Such data is confirmed by numerous inscriptions and images.

Traditions of St. Peter's Basilica

The dimensions of the cathedral are amazing. The area of ​​the object reaches 22 thousand m2, and the height is 189 m, excluding the portico. Together with the portico, the grandiose structure is 211 m in height.

In front of the entrance, statues of Peter and Paul look majestically at those entering. The first apostle holds the keys to the Heavenly Kingdom, which were handed to him by the prophet. Five doors lead to the cathedral. Moreover, the latter, which is called Saint, opens exclusively in the Holy Year. In ancient times, the beginning of the jubilee year, celebrated every 25 years, was marked by the sound of the goat's horn "vobel". From him it was formed modern word"anniversary".

The door is walled up with cement mortar. Every quarter of a century, exactly on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, the concrete breaks. At the same time, the cathedral servants strictly observe the ritual: three times bowing and three blows of the hammer. After opening the door, the Pope is the first to enter the room, holding a cross in his hands. At the end of the holy year, the door is closed and filled with concrete.

The huge bronze doors by the Florentine master Filaret date back to the 15th century, when such works were popular. Large figures of the Mother of God and Christ are shown in the upper part. In the center of the exhibition are the apostles Paul and Peter.

Two hallmarks show the trials under Nero, as well as the scene of the execution of saints. The doors are framed by countless engravings of ancient myths telling about the abduction of the Sabine women, Romulus and Rome, Aesop's fables. The bas-relief above the doors by Bernini tells how Jesus hands over the keys of Heaven to Peter.

On the floor is a stunning giant porphyry circle that marks the spot where Charlemagne, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, converted to Christianity on Christmas Eve in the year 800.

Technical features of the Cathedral

Michelangelo's huge dome floats above the clouds like a sheet. With a diameter of 42 m, the cupollone, as the Romans call the dome, is richly decorated. Along the frieze there is an inscription in Greek and Latin with the words of Christ addressing Peter. There is an elevator and a gentle staircase leading to the base of the dome. The walls are covered with autographs of the monarchs who visited the cathedral. The staircase leads to the balcony, which offers a magnificent view of the altar area. Directly under the dome there are souvenir shops and workshops, as well as a post office, which stamps the Roof of St. Peter on postcards.

From the top of the dome there is a stunning 360-degree panorama of Rome. Also on the surface of the dome are the evangelists: Luke, Mark, John, Matthew.

In the center of the cathedral you can find an altar with lamps. They are lit over the shrine where the relics of the apostle rest. The altar is called the papal altar because Mass can only be celebrated here by the pontiff. Above the altar rises a bronze canopy designed by Bernini, 29 m high. As the guides say, the unusual shape of the columns completely repeats the silhouette of Solomonic columns in the Jerusalem Temple.

The figure of Peter was immediately located, seated on the throne of the Pope and holding the keys to Heaven in his hands. It is said that by touching the heel or foot of the statue, one can receive healing and the blessing of the apostle.

Interesting facts about St. Peter's Basilica

In 2007, the Vatican archives released the last found work of Michelangelo Buonarroti, which the great artist and sculptor completed shortly before his death. It is a red chalk sketch of a radial column that complemented the drum of the dome of the Roman Cathedral.

Interestingly, the altar of the cathedral is directed towards the west, and not the east, as in most Catholic churches.

Did you know that the largest church in the world - the Ivorian Basilica of the Mother of God in the town of Yamoussoukro was built according to the prototype of the Vatican Cathedral? Florentine and Venetian architects also took this landmark as an example.

A mosaic workshop previously functioned at the cathedral. The artist Vincenzo Camuccini was appointed director of the studio by decree of His Holiness Pius VII in 1803.

It is in this cathedral that the spear of Longinus, with which Jesus was pierced on the cross, is kept. The relic came to Rome from Constantinople when the capital of the Byzantine Empire was captured by the Ottomans. Sultan Bayazed showed nobility and sent the spearhead, which was kept in the St. Sophia Cathedral, as a gift to the Pope.

In one of the chapels lie the remains of St. John, popularly nicknamed Chrysostom.