St Peter's Basilica
- Address:Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City
- Hours:Open daily 7am - 7pm (6pm in winter)
- Admission:Free
9:51 PM Sunday, May 27
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St Peter's Basilica was built between 1506 and 1590, when the dome was finally completed. It is on the site of the tomb of St. Peter; his relics were finally found and authenticated in the middle of the 20th century. Before the current grand basilica, a 4th-century church built by Emperor Constantine stood here.
This is a church like no other. It is huge and full of significant artworks and tombs, including that of Pope John Paul II. One of the most beautiful pieces is the marble Pieta by Michelangelo just inside the door on the right. It is now behind bullet proof glass after being attacked by an art-hating lunatic in 1972.
If you can time your visit with a Mass, you will see the most important hierarchy of the Catholic Church come to worship in their red robes and hats. Climbing to the top of the dome gives a wonderful view over the piazza and Bernini's enclosing colonnade below, and across Rome.
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I would HIGHLY recommend this tour for two reasons: you do skip the lines for entrance AND your guide explains so much in the Vatican Museum about which travelers such as me and my wife would have not a clue.
Our guide, Davide, was FANTASTIC! Friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. The radios with the earphones were also a wonderful accessory on the tour. We could all hear Davide even if in a crowd or a short distance away gazing at AMAZING things! You will miss so much if you do this on your own. And Davide also does private tours of Rome as well. I would recommend him without hesitation. Viator offers a great service!
Even though I was unable to attend the second half, the Vatican museum and St. Peter's basilica tour was a great experience.
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Seriously awesome trip. The tour was excellent, informative, and well paced. You saw all the amazing history of the Vatican and you get to take short cuts not open to non-tour groups. Suffice to say we left Sistine Chapel and got the fast track to St. peter's square and St. peter's Basilica. you won't regret taking this tour.
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St Peter's is easy to reach. Metro line A stops Ottaviano-S.Pietro-Musei Vaticano or Cipro. Tramway 19 to Piazza del Risorgimento, or various buses. You can also walk from the centre of Rome across Ponte Sant'Angelo and up the piazza for the most breathtaking approach.
Leave plenty of time as you have to pass through a security check and then there is so much to see inside. Remember it is a church so a dress code applies: no bare shoulders, shorts, short skirts or bare feet.
