St Peter’s Basilica forms the centrepiece of Vatican City. Often dubbed “the greatest church in Christendom”, it is thought that St Peter, one of the twelve apostles and the first Bishop of Rome, is buried there.
The building itself dates back 2,000 years, but the edifice you see today isn’t actually the original. In fact, after the first Basilica was knocked down, it took more than a century to build the next one, with some of the world’s most famous architects of the moment commissioned to help design it.
Today, St Peter’s Basilica holds more than 60,000 people and spans more than 22,300 square metres – this makes it one of the biggest churches in the world. To get to the top of Michelangelo’s dome, you need to climb 491 stairs, an undertaking that many tourists choose to do.
So why is this a Basilica and not a church?
A church becomes a Basilica when the pope designates it. This is usually due to the religious or historical significance of the church or because it is home to sacred relics. There are more than 1,400 Basilicas in the world, but St Peter’s is one of just four Major Basilicas.
Facts About St Peter’s Basilica
As well as a lengthy history that is still imbued in the Basilica’s walls today, there are plenty of other fascinating facts associated with the building.
Firstly, a lot of people are surprised to learn that there are just three women entombed in the Vatican Grottoes at the Basilica. They are Queen Christina of Sweden, Agnesina Colonna Caetani and Queen Charlotte of Cyprus.
Then there’s the holy door, which is only opened every 25 years. The rest of the time they are cemented shut to make sure they can’t be accidentally opened.
You can find Michelangelo’s world-famous statue of the Pieta in the Basilica. It’s protected by a sheet of bulletproof glass and marks the only piece by the artist that is signed.
Outside in the courtyard, there are 140 statues of saints. They perch on the impressive colonnades and tower 3.10 metres high. The majority of them have been there since 1670 and continue to be a popular part of any visit to the Basilica.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the Pope holds an audience at St Peter’s Basilica every Wednesday. You can get tickets to witness the event that takes place in St Peter’s Square – but be prepared to join thousands and thousands of others who are there for the event, too.
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