Check Out The Stunning View From the Cupola of St Peter’s Basilica

 

Voila! The stunning view of St Peter’s Square from the roof of St Peter’s Basilica. 

The iconic St. Peter’s Square in all its glory. 

 Art thou Rome?

View of the Vatican City from St Peter’s dome.

 The spectacular view of Rome from St. Peter’s dome. 

 Close-up of the cupola from the top. 

Some of the 300 Tuscan columns of the semi-circular colonnades. 

Stand at the ‘magic spot’ and see these four rows of gigantic columns ‘merge’ into one.

 

Good to know

The elevator to the top is found at the far right of the Basilica.

Considered a sacred place, St. Peter’s Basilica observes a stringent dress code – no shorts, skirts above the knee or bare shoulders are allowed. Please dress appropriately. 

Free tours are provided by the North American College from Monday – Friday at 2:15 pm and 3 pm, Saturday at 10:15 am and 2:15 pm, and Sunday at 2:30 pm. The tour starts at the Vatican tourist information office located along Piazza S. Pietro. Or at 9:45am on Tuesday and Thursday and at 2.15pm between Monday and Friday, tour also starts from the same location.

Please allot at least two hours to make the most of the entire climb.

The Piazza San Pietro, also designed by Lorenzo Bernini and built between 1656 and 1667, has two semi-circular colonnades facing each other. Each has four rows of Tuscan columns (300 in total). But if you stand at the ‘magic spot‘, a circular stone located halfway between the obelisk at the center and the two fountains, the four rows of columns are exactly aligned, and appear to be only one row regardless where you look. This is just another testament to Bernini’s architectural ingenuity. The experience is almost surreal and is definitely a must-try.

 

 

Check Out The Stunning View From the Cupola of St Peter’s Basilica