Basilica di San Pietro

You are standing in Saint Peter’s Square, the monumental entrance to the largest church in the world. While technically called a 'square,' you will notice it is largely round, defined by Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s magnificent…

Immediately upon entering the Basilica, in the first chapel on the right, you will encounter one of the most famous sculptures in history: Michelangelo’s 'Pietà'. Michelangelo was only twenty-four years old when he carved this…

Walking down the central nave, you truly begin to feel the 'expansive and dizzying' size of Saint Peter's. This is one of the largest buildings you will ever step foot in, and its dimensions are literally marked on the floor to…

We have reached the centerpiece of the Basilica: the High Altar, topped by Bernini’s staggering 'Baldacchino'. This massive bronze canopy stands nearly thirty meters tall—roughly the height of a ten-story building—and features…

To the right of the high altar stands a very famous bronze statue of Saint Peter, attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio. You will notice a constant line of people waiting to touch or kiss the right foot of the statue. …

For those with stamina, the climb to the top of Michelangelo’s dome is an essential part of the Saint Peter’s experience. You can take an elevator to the roof level, but from there, you still must climb three hundred and twenty…

As we conclude our interior tour, we look toward the entrance area and the 'Holy Door'. This door is usually sealed with brick and mortar, but it is opened every twenty-five years for a Jubilee year. …

As you exit the Basilica and step back into the vastness of Saint Peter's Square, the scale of what you have just seen begins to sink in. We have moved from the emotional intimacy of the Pietà to the staggering heights of the…