St. Peter's Basilica facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Peter's Basilica
Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican
Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano  (Italian) Basilica Sancti Petri  (Latin)
Main façade and dome of St. Peter's Basilica, seen from St. Peter's Square
41°54′08″N 12°27′12″E / 41.90222°N 12.45333°E / 41.90222; 12.45333
Country	Vatican City
Denomination	Catholic
Tradition	Roman Rite
History
Status	Papal major basilica
Dedication	Saint Peter
Consecrated	18 November 1626
Architecture
Architect(s)	Bernardo Rossellino, Giuliano da Sangallo, Bramante, Raffaello Sanzio, Giovanni Giocondo, Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane, Baldassarre Peruzzi, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Domenico Fontana, Giacomo Della Porta, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, Pirro Ligorio, Carlo Maderno, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini.
Style	Renaissance and Baroque
Groundbreaking	18 April 1506
Completed	18 November 1626 (1626-11-18)
Specifications
Length	220 metres (720 ft)
Width	150 metres (490 ft)
Height	136.6 metres (448 ft)
Nave height	46.2 metres (152 ft)
Dome diameter (outer)	42 metres (138 ft)
Dome diameter (inner)	41.5 metres (136 ft)
Administration
Diocese	Rome

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, or simply Saint Peter's Basilica, is a huge church in Vatican City. This is a tiny country located inside Rome, Italy.

It was first planned in the 1400s by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II. They wanted to replace the very old Old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the 300s. Building the current church started on April 18, 1506, and finished on November 18, 1626.

Many famous architects helped design St. Peter's. These include Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno. Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the big square outside and many things inside. St. Peter's is one of the most famous buildings from the Italian Renaissance. It is also the largest church in the world by its inside size.

Even though it's not the main church for the Catholic Church, St. Peter's is considered one of the holiest Catholic places. It's been called "the greatest of all churches of Christendom."

Catholic tradition says that Saint Peter is buried here. He was one of Jesus's main apostles and the first Bishop of Rome. His tomb is believed to be right under the main altar. Because of this, many popes and other important church leaders have been buried at St. Peter's for a very long time.

St. Peter's is a popular place for pilgrimages and church ceremonies. The Pope often leads services here or in St. Peter's Square. These events can attract tens of thousands of people. The basilica has a rich history, connected to early Christianity, the Popes, and famous artists like Michelangelo. It's seen as the greatest building of its time.

St. Peter's is one of only four churches in the world with the special title of "Major Papal Basilica." All four are in Rome. It's also one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. It's important to know that St. Peter's is not a cathedral. A cathedral is where a bishop has his official seat. The Pope's seat as Bishop of Rome is at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran.

Exploring St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's is a Renaissance style church in Vatican City. It's west of the Tiber River and near the Janiculum Hill. Its huge dome is a key part of Rome's skyline.

You approach the basilica through St. Peter's Square. This large area has two parts, both surrounded by tall colonnades (rows of columns). The first part is oval, and the second is shaped like a trapezoid. The front of the basilica, called the façade, has giant columns. Steps lead up to it, with two large statues of Saints Peter and Paul.

The church is shaped like a cruciform (a cross), with a long nave (main hall). However, earlier designs were for a central, rounder building. You can still see this in the architecture. The center of the church is dominated by one of the largest domes in the world. You enter through a narthex, or entrance hall. One special bronze door, the Holy Door, is only opened during special "jubilee" years.

The inside of St. Peter's is incredibly vast. It makes people feel very small. One writer said: "Only gradually does it dawn upon us – as we watch people draw near to this or that monument, strangely they appear to shrink; they are, of course, dwarfed by the scale of everything in the building. This in its turn overwhelms us."

The nave leads to the central dome and has three sections. Huge pillars support a high barrel vault ceiling. Wide aisles run along the nave, with many smaller chapels. There are also chapels around the dome.

The entire inside of St. Peter's is richly decorated. You'll see marble, sculptures, and gold. The basilica holds many tombs of popes and other important people. Many of these tombs are considered amazing works of art. There are also sculptures in niches and chapels, including Michelangelo's famous Pietà.

The main feature inside is a baldachin, a large canopy over the Papal Altar. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. At the very back of the church, in the apse, is another Bernini sculpture. It holds the symbolic Chair of Saint Peter.

The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson called St. Peter's "an ornament of the earth ... the sublime of the beautiful."

Why St. Peter's is Important

St. Peter's Basilica is one of the papal basilicas. It is also one of the four "Major Basilicas" of Rome. This high rank means St. Peter's Basilica is more important than all "minor basilicas" worldwide. Unlike other major basilicas, it is entirely within Vatican City. This means it is under the Vatican's own rule, not Italy's.

It is the most famous building in Vatican City. Its dome is a key part of Rome's skyline. The dome covers an area of about 5.7 acres (2.3 hectares). It is one of the holiest places in Christianity. Tradition says it is the burial site of Saint Peter. He was the leader of Jesus's twelve Apostles and the first Bishop of Rome.

The New Testament does not say Peter died in Rome. But old church writings say his tomb is below the baldachin and altar. Because of this, many Popes have been buried near St. Peter. This has happened since the early years of the Church. Building the current basilica started on April 18, 1506. It was finished in 1615. On November 18, 1626, Pope Urban VIII officially opened the Basilica.

St. Peter's Basilica is not the Pope's official church. That honor belongs to the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. This is the "mother church" for all Catholic churches. However, St. Peter's is the Pope's main church for many events. This is because of its large size and its location in Vatican City.

The "Chair of Saint Peter" is an ancient chair. Some believe St. Peter himself used it. It was a gift from Charles the Bald and used by many popes. It symbolizes the unbroken line of popes from St. Peter. It sits high up in the back of the Basilica. It is supported by statues of important church teachers.

St. Peter's Basilica is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vatican City. It was added in 1984. With an outside area of 21,095 square meters (227,070 sq ft), it is the largest Christian church building in the world by interior space. Its dome is 136.6 meters (448.1 ft) tall. This makes it the second tallest building in Rome. It also has the tallest dome in the world.

History of St. Peter's

Saint Peter's Burial Site

After Jesus died, the Bible says that Simon, known as Saint Peter, became a leader among Jesus's followers. He was very important in starting the Christian Church. The name Peter means "stone" or "rock." Jesus gave him this name.

Catholic tradition says Peter traveled to Rome. He was killed there around 64 AD during the time of Emperor Nero. His death was one of many Christian deaths after the Great Fire of Rome. Peter asked to be crucified upside down. He felt he was not worthy to die in the same way as Jesus. This happened near an ancient Egyptian obelisk in the Circus of Nero. This obelisk is now in St. Peter's Square. It is seen as a "witness" to Peter's death.

Tradition says Peter was buried just outside the Circus. This was on the Vatican Hill, across from the Circus. A small shrine was built there later. Almost 300 years later, the Old St. Peter's Basilica was built over this spot.

The area of Vatican City was a cemetery before the Circus of Nero was built. Many Christians chose to be buried near St. Peter.

In 1939, Pope Pius XII started 10 years of digging under the basilica. They found remains of shrines from different times. They also found an old structure with bone fragments. These bones were wrapped in a special purple cloth with gold. While they couldn't be sure, the rare cloth suggested a very important burial. On December 23, 1950, Pope Pius XII announced the discovery of Saint Peter's tomb.

The Old St. Peter's Basilica

The Old St. Peter's Basilica was a church built in the 300s by Emperor Constantine the Great. It was a typical church shape with a wide main hall and aisles. It also had a cross-shaped section. It was over 103.6 meters (340 ft) long. A large courtyard was at the entrance. This church was built over the small shrine believed to be St. Peter's burial place. It held many burials, including most popes up to the 1400s.

Planning the New Building

By the late 1400s, the old basilica was falling apart. Pope Nicholas V (1447–1455) was the first to think about rebuilding it. He hired Leone Battista Alberti and Bernardo Rossellino to work on the old building. Rossellino also designed a plan for a completely new basilica. But political problems stopped him, and little was done when he died.

Pope Julius II had bigger plans. He wanted a huge new church to hold his own tomb. In 1505, he decided to tear down the old basilica. He wanted to replace it with a grand structure. A competition was held for the design. Many designs still exist today. Over the next 120 years, many popes and architects worked together to create the building we see now.

Paying for the Building

One way to pay for St. Peter's Basilica was by selling "indulgences." These were special pardons from sins in exchange for money. This method caused a lot of problems and helped start the Protestant Reformation.

Architecture of St. Peter's

Different Plans for the Church

Pope Julius's idea for the grandest church in Christianity led to a design competition. Donato Bramante's design was chosen, and the first stone was laid in 1506. His plan was for a huge Greek cross shape. The dome was inspired by the Pantheon, a large circular Roman temple. Bramante's dome would be supported by four huge pillars. This idea stayed in the final design.

When Pope Julius died in 1513, Bramante was replaced. Raphael became the architect in 1514. His main change was to add a longer nave (main hall) with chapels.

Raphael died young in 1520. His successor, Baldassare Peruzzi, went back to Bramante's Greek Cross plan. But this plan didn't happen because of problems in the Church and state. Rome was attacked in 1527. Peruzzi died in 1536 before his plan was built.

Then Antonio da Sangallo the Younger proposed a plan. It combined ideas from earlier architects. He also suggested a more detailed dome design. Sangallo's most important contribution was making Bramante's pillars stronger, as they had started to crack.

On January 1, 1547, Michelangelo took over as the main architect. He was in his seventies. He is seen as the main designer of much of the building as it is today. He didn't want the job, but Pope Paul forced him. Michelangelo said, "I undertake this only for the love of God and in honour of the Apostle." He wanted to be free to design as he saw fit.

• 

  Bramante's plan

• 

  Raphael's plan

• 

  Michelangelo's plan

Michelangelo's Design

Michelangelo took over a building site where four huge pillars were rising. He also inherited many designs from earlier architects. All these designs included a dome as grand as the one Brunelleschi built in Florence a century before. They also wanted a symmetrical plan, either a Greek cross or a Latin cross.

Even though little work had been done in 40 years, Michelangelo used ideas from the previous architects. He went back to the Greek Cross plan. He made Bramante's complex plan into a "massive, cohesive unity."

Today, St. Peter's has a long nave added by Carlo Maderno. But the back part, with its huge central dome, is Michelangelo's work. Because of its location, you can't see the dome well from the front square. Michelangelo's work is best seen from a distance. He made the outside walls very thick and filled in every corner. This makes the building look like a continuous, folded wall.

The Dome: How it Changed Over Time

The dome of St. Peter's is 136.57 meters (448.1 ft) tall from the floor to the top of the cross. It is the tallest dome in the world. Its inside diameter is 41.47 meters (136.1 ft). This is a bit smaller than the domes of the Pantheon and Florence Cathedral. Architects looked to these older domes for ideas on how to build such a massive structure.

Early Ideas for the Dome

The Pantheon's dome sits on a circular wall. It has no windows, just one door. It's built from a single layer of concrete. The inside has deep patterns that make it lighter. At the top, an 8-meter (26 ft) wide opening lets light in.

Bramante's plan for St. Peter's dome (1506) was very similar to the Pantheon's. It was also meant to be built from concrete. The main difference was that St. Peter's dome would sit on a tall drum, supported by four huge pillars. Bramante planned for the drum to have windows and a row of columns.

The dome of Florence Cathedral was built by Brunelleschi. It has a double shell of bricks. Its eight stone ribs allowed it to be built without huge wooden supports. This design was very new for its time.

Sangallo's plan (1513) combined ideas from both the Pantheon and Florence Cathedral. He made Bramante's row of columns into a series of arches. His lantern (the small structure on top of the dome) was much larger and more complex.

• 

  Bramante's dome

• 

  Sangallo's design

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  The engraving by Stefan du Pérac was published in 1569, five years after the death of Michelangelo.

Michelangelo's Dome Design

Michelangelo redesigned the dome in 1547. His dome, like Florence's, has two shells of brick. The outer shell has 16 stone ribs. The dome is raised on a drum above the main pillars. The rows of columns from earlier designs were changed to 16 pairs of Corinthian columns. These columns are 15 meters (49 ft) high and stand out from the building.

Michelangelo died in 1564, leaving the dome's drum finished. Work continued under his assistant Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola. In 1585, Pope Sixtus V appointed Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana. They made great progress on the building.

Michelangelo left some drawings and a large wooden model. Giacomo della Porta later changed this model. The main change was to make the outer dome appear to rise above its base, rather than sit directly on it.

A drawing by Michelangelo suggests he first planned an oval-shaped dome, not a perfectly round one. The final dome is more oval than the wooden model. Some believe Michelangelo changed his mind to the more pointed shape before he died. Others say Giacomo della Porta made this change.

The oval shape of the dome might have been a way to create visual tension. It makes the dome seem to push upwards. This design looks back to the Gothic style of Florence Cathedral. But it also hints at the Baroque style that came later.

Finishing the Dome

Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana finished the dome in 1590. This was the last year of Pope Sixtus V's rule. The next pope, Gregory XIV, saw Fontana complete the lantern. An inscription honoring Sixtus V was placed inside. The next pope, Clement VIII, had the cross placed on top. This event took all day and was celebrated with bells ringing across the city.

In the mid-1700s, cracks appeared in the dome. So, four iron chains were put between the two shells to hold it together. Like rings on a barrel, they keep it from bursting. Many chains have been added over time. Michelangelo himself might have planned some as a safety measure.

Around the inside of the dome, in letters 1.4 meters (4.6 ft) high, it says:

TV ES PETRVS ET SVPER HANC PETRAM AEDIFICABO ECCLESIAM MEAM ET TIBI DABO CLAVES REGNI CAELORVM
("... you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. ... and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven ..." Vulgate, Matthew 16:18–19.)

Beneath the lantern is another inscription:

S. PETRI GLORIAE SIXTVS PP. V. A. M. D. XC. PONTIF. V.
(To the glory of St Peter; Sixtus V, pope, in the year 1590, the fifth of his pontificate.)

In 2007, a drawing fragment of the dome was found in the Vatican archives. It was almost certainly by Michelangelo. He was known to destroy many of his drawings. This one survived because it was incomplete and had math calculations on it.

Adding the Nave and Front (Facade)

On February 18, 1606, under Pope Paul V, the last parts of the old Constantinian basilica were taken down. The marble cross from the old building was lowered. Wood from the roof was saved for other buildings. Rare black marble columns were stored and later used in the new entrance. Tombs of popes were opened, and plans were made to rebury them in the new basilica.

The Pope had appointed Carlo Maderno in 1602. He was a skilled architect. Maderno wanted to add chapels around Michelangelo's building. But the Pope was unsure about changing the master's plan. The building committee was also unsure how to proceed. One reason was the Counter-Reformation. This movement saw the Greek cross plan as pagan. They preferred the Latin cross as a true symbol of Christianity.

Another reason was guilt over tearing down the ancient building. The ground it stood on was considered holy. The only solution was to build a nave that covered the entire sacred space. In 1607, a committee of ten architects decided to extend Michelangelo's building with a nave. Maderno's plans for both the nave and the facade (front) were accepted.

Building the nave started on May 7, 1607. It went very fast, with 700 workers. The next year, the façade began. By early 1615, the wall between the old and new sections was removed. The nave was ready for use by Palm Sunday.

Maderno's Facade

Maderno's façade is 114.69 meters (376.3 ft) wide and 45.55 meters (149.4 ft) high. It is made of travertine stone. It has huge Corinthian columns and a central triangular top. Above this are thirteen statues: Christ, eleven of the Apostles, and John the Baptist. The inscription below the top part says:

IN HONOREM PRINCIPIS APOST PAVLVS V BVRGHESIVS ROMANVS PONT MAX AN MDCXII PONT VII
(In honour of the Prince of Apostles, Paul V Borghese, a Roman, Supreme Pontiff, in the year 1612, the seventh of his pontificate)

The façade is often seen as the least successful part of St. Peter's design. It is too wide for its height. This is partly because towers were planned on either side. These towers were never built high up. The ground was not stable enough to hold their weight. The wide façade and long nave also hide the view of the dome from the front.

Bernini's Bell Towers

Pope Urban VIII did not like the work of Bernini's predecessor, Carlo Maderno. He especially disliked how Maderno's long nave hid Michelangelo's dome. So, the Pope asked Bernini to design new bell towers for the façade.

The Pope wanted the towers finished by June 29, 1641. This was a special feast day. The south tower was finished on time. But the Pope was not happy. He ordered the top level removed to make the tower grander. As the tower grew, cracks appeared. The Pope publicly criticized Bernini.

In 1642, all work on the towers stopped. Bernini had to pay for the parts that were torn down. The idea of finishing the bell towers was eventually given up.

The Entrance Hall and Doors

Behind the façade is a long entrance hall called the "narthex." Maderno was very proud of this part. Its long arched ceiling is decorated with fancy stucco and gold. Light from small windows brightens the hall. The marble floor shines with light from the square outside. At each end of the narthex is a large statue. One is of Charlemagne (1700s) and the other is of Constantine the Great by Bernini (1670).

Five doors lead into the basilica. Three of them have special designs. The central door is a bronze door from the 1400s by Antonio Averulino. It was made for the old basilica and made bigger to fit the new one. The southern door, the Door of the Dead, was designed by Giacomo Manzù in the 1900s. It shows Pope John XXIII kneeling before a crucified St. Peter.

The northernmost door is the "Holy Door." By tradition, it is sealed with bricks. It is only opened by the Pope for special "Jubilee years." The current door is bronze and was made in 1950.

Maderno's Nave

Maderno added three more sections to Michelangelo's Greek Cross design. He made them slightly different in size. This shows where the two architects' work meets. Maderno also slightly tilted the nave. This was done on purpose. An ancient Egyptian obelisk in the square outside was not perfectly lined up with Michelangelo's building. Maderno adjusted the nave so it would line up with the basilica's front.

The nave has huge paired pillars. The inside is so big that it's hard to understand its scale. For example, the four cherub statues holding holy water basins look normal-sized. But when you get close, you see each one is over 2 meters (6.6 ft) tall!

The aisles have smaller chapels and two larger ones. These are richly decorated with marble, stucco, gold, sculptures, and mosaics. Most of the large altarpieces (paintings above altars) are actually mosaics. Two old paintings from the original basilica are still used as altarpieces.

Maderno's last work at St. Peter's was a crypt-like area called the "Confessio." It is under the dome. Cardinals and other special people can go down there to be closer to St. Peter's burial place. Its marble steps are from the old basilica. Around its railing are 95 bronze lamps.

How St. Peter's Influenced Other Churches

The design of St. Peter's Basilica, especially its dome, has greatly influenced church architecture in the Western world. In Rome, many churches like Sant'Andrea della Valle and Sant'Agnese in Agone have large domes inspired by St. Peter's.

Outside Rome, Christopher Wren's dome at St Paul's Cathedral in London, and the domes of Karlskirche in Vienna, and the Pantheon in Paris, all show respect to St. Peter's.

Many churches built in the 1800s and early 1900s copied parts of St. Peter's. Examples include St. Mary of the Angels in Chicago and Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal. More modern churches, like the Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń and the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, also show its influence.

Bernini's Decorations

Pope Urban VIII and Bernini's Work

As a young boy, Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680) visited St. Peter's. He said he wanted to build "a mighty throne for the apostle." His wish came true. In 1626, he started working for Pope Urban VIII. He spent 50 years decorating the Basilica. Bernini became known as the greatest architect and sculptor of the Baroque period. His works at St. Peter's include the baldachin, the Chapel of the Sacrament, and the chair of St. Peter.

The Baldachin and Niches

Bernini's first work was the baldachin. This is a pavilion-like structure 28.74 meters (94.3 ft) tall. It is said to be the largest bronze piece in the world. It stands under the dome and above the main altar. Its design is based on a ciborium, which creates a holy space around the altar. Bernini's baldachin was different. He was inspired by the canopies carried over the Pope in processions. He also used eight ancient twisted columns from the old basilica. These columns were special because they were modeled after those in the Temple of Jerusalem.

Bernini created four huge bronze columns for the baldachin. They are twisted and decorated with laurel leaves and bees. Bees were the symbol of Pope Urban. The baldachin has a draped canopy made of bronze. All the details, like olive leaves and bees, are highlighted with gold. The baldachin is a huge, free-standing sculpture. It links the enormous dome above it to the people on the floor.

Bernini also had the huge pillars supporting the dome hollowed out into niches. He built staircases inside them leading to four balconies. Many people worried the dome might fall, but it didn't. On the balconies, Bernini displayed four precious relics: the Holy Lance (said to have pierced Christ's side), the veil of Veronica (with Christ's face), a piece of the True Cross, and a relic of Saint Andrew. In each niche, a huge statue of the saint linked to the relic was placed. Bernini only sculpted Saint Longinus.

The Chair of St. Peter and Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Bernini then worked on another important relic, the Cathedra Petri or "throne of St. Peter." This chair was believed to have been used by the apostle. Since the chair was old and fragile, Pope Alexander VII decided to house it in a grand way. Bernini created a large bronze throne to hold it. It is raised high on four supports. These are held by massive bronze statues of four important church teachers: Saints Ambrose and Augustine (Latin Church) and Athanasius and John Chrysostom (Greek Church).

Behind and above the chair, a bright light comes through a yellow alabaster window. In the center of this light is the Dove of the Holy Spirit. The chair was placed in its new home with a big celebration on January 16, 1666.

Bernini's last work for St. Peter's was the Chapel of the Sacrament in 1676. He designed a small gilt bronze version of Bramante's Tempietto to hold the sacramental Host. On either side are angels. Bernini died in 1680 at age 82.

St. Peter's Square

East of the basilica is the Piazza di San Pietro, or St. Peter's Square. The current design was built between 1656 and 1667 by Bernini. The square already had an Egyptian obelisk in the center. This obelisk is 25.31 meters (83.0 ft) tall. With its base and the cross on top, it reaches 40 meters (130 ft). It is the second largest standing obelisk. It is the only one that has remained standing since it was moved from Egypt in 37 AD. It is thought to have witnessed St. Peter's crucifixion.

Another feature in the old square was a large fountain designed by Maderno in 1613. It was placed to one side of the obelisk. Bernini's plan used this line as a key part of his design.

Bernini's clever solution was to create a square with two sections. The part closest to the basilica is trapezoid-shaped, but it narrows towards the church. This makes the building look closer than it is. It also makes the façade look less wide and taller. The second part of the square is a huge oval. It gently slopes down to the obelisk in its center.

The two areas are framed by a colonnade (row of columns). It has doubled pairs of columns. The colonnade around the oval doesn't fully encircle it. Instead, it reaches out in two arcs. These symbolize the "arms of the Catholic Church reaching out to welcome its members." The obelisk and Maderno's fountain mark the widest part of the oval. Bernini added another fountain in 1675.

The approach to the square used to be through old buildings. This created a surprise view when you entered the colonnade. Today, a wide street, the Via della Conciliazione, leads from the Tiber River to the square. It gives distant views of St. Peter's as you approach.

Bernini's changes to the site are very Baroque. While earlier architects saw the building as separate, Bernini made the whole complex connect with its surroundings. Banister Fletcher said, "No other city has afforded such a wide-swept approach to its cathedral church, no other architect could have conceived a design of greater nobility ... (it is) the greatest of all atriums before the greatest of all churches of Christendom."

Clocks and Bells

The front of St. Peter's Basilica has two clocks and many sculptures. The clocks replaced Bernini's bell towers that had to be taken down. The left clock shows Rome time, and the right one shows European mean time. The statues are of Christ the Redeemer, St. John the Baptist, and 11 Apostles. Above the Roman clock is the coat of arms for Vatican City.

The Basilica has 6 bells. They are in a room under the Roman clock. Only 3 are visible from the ground. They range from 260 kg (570 lb) to the huge "Campanone" bell, which weighs about 9 tons. Since 1931, the bells are rung electrically. The oldest bell, "Rota," is from 1288. The "Campanone" is rung at Christmas and Easter, on special feast days, and when the Pope gives a blessing. It also announces the death of a pope and the election of a new one.

Treasures of St. Peter's

Tombs and Holy Items

There are over 100 tombs inside St. Peter's Basilica. Many are located beneath the main church. These include 91 popes, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, and Holy Roman Emperor Otto II. The composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina is also buried here.

Exiled British royalty, James Francis Edward Stuart and his two sons, are buried here. They were given safety by Pope Clement XI. Also buried are Maria Clementina Sobieska, wife of James Stuart, and Queen Christina of Sweden. Christina gave up her throne to become Catholic. Countess Matilda of Tuscany, a supporter of the Papacy, is also here. The most recent burial was Pope Benedict XVI on January 5, 2023.

Artworks Inside

Entrance and Nave Art

• In the towers on either side of the façade are two clocks. The left clock has been electric since 1931. Its oldest bell is from 1288.
• A very important mosaic is above the central outside door. It's called the "Navicella." It's based on a design by Giotto from the early 1300s. It shows a ship, symbolizing the Christian Church. The mosaic you see today is mostly a copy from the 1600s.
• At each end of the narthex (entrance hall) is a large statue. To the north is Constantine the Great by Bernini (1670). To the south is Charlemagne by Cornacchini (1700s).
• Of the five doors from the narthex to the inside, three are special. The central door is a bronze door from the 1400s by Antonio Averulino. The southern door, the Door of the Dead, was designed by Giacomo Manzù in the 1900s. It shows Pope John XXIII kneeling.
• The northernmost door is the "Holy Door." It is usually sealed with bricks. It is only opened by the Pope for special "holy years." The current bronze door was designed in 1950.

• On the first pillars of the nave are two Holy Water basins. They are held by pairs of cherubs, each 2 meters (6.6 ft) high.
• Along the floor of the nave are markers showing how long other churches are compared to St. Peter's.
• In niches along the nave are statues of 39 founders of religious orders.
• Against the northeast pillar of the dome is a statue of Saint Peter Enthroned. Some say it's from the late 1200s, others from the 400s. One foot of the statue is worn away from centuries of pilgrims kissing it.
• The sunken Confessio leads to the Vatican Grottoes. It used to have a large kneeling statue of Pope Pius VI by Canova. This statue has been moved.
• In the Confessio is the Niche of the Pallium. It holds a bronze urn with special white stoles.
• The High Altar is topped by Bernini's baldachin.
• In niches within the four pillars supporting the dome are large statues linked to the basilica's main holy items:
  • Saint Helena holding the True Cross and Holy Nails, by Andrea Bolgi.
  • Saint Longinus holding the Holy Lance (the spear that pierced Jesus's side), by Bernini (1639).
  • Saint Andrew with the St. Andrew's Cross, by Francois Duquesnoy.
  • Saint Veronica holding her veil with the image of Jesus' face, by Francesco Mochi.

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  Saint Helena
  by Andrea Bolgi

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  Saint Longinus
  by Bernini

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  Saint Andrew
  by Francois Duquesnoy

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  Saint Veronica
  by Francesco Mochi

North Aisle Highlights

• In the first chapel of the north aisle is Michelangelo's Pietà.
• On the first pillar in the right aisle is the monument of Queen Christina of Sweden. She gave up her throne in 1654 to become Catholic.
• The second chapel, dedicated to Saint Sebastian, has statues of popes Pius XI and Pius XII. The body of Pope John Paul II was placed here on May 2, 2011.
• The large chapel on the right aisle is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. It has a tabernacle by Bernini (1664). This tabernacle looks like Bramante's Tempietto.
• Near the altar of Our Lady of Succour are the monuments of popes Gregory XIII and Gregory XIV.
• At the end of the aisle is an altar with relics of Saint Petronilla. It has a painting called The Burial of St Petronilla by Guercino (1623).

South Aisle Highlights

• The first chapel in the south aisle is the baptistry. It was designed by Carlo Fontana. The font was carved from the lid of a purple stone sarcophagus. This sarcophagus once held the remains of Emperor Hadrian.
• Against the first pillar of the aisle is the Monument to the Royal Stuarts. This tomb is for James Francis Edward Stuart and his sons. It was designed by Canova in 1819. Across from it is the memorial for James's wife, Maria Clementina Sobieska.
• The second chapel is the Presentation of the Virgin. It has memorials for Pope Benedict XV and Pope John XXIII.
• Against the pillars are the tombs of Pope Pius X and Pope Innocent VIII.
• The large chapel off the south aisle is the Choir Chapel. It has the altar of the Immaculate Conception.
• At the entrance to the Sacristy is the tomb of Pope Pius VIII.
• The south transept has altars for Saint Thomas, Saint Joseph, and the Crucifixion of Saint Peter.
• The tomb of Fabio Chigi, Pope Alexander VII, is near the end of the aisle. It is a work by Bernini. It is called "one of the greatest tombs of the Baroque Age." It is set in a niche above a doorway. Bernini used the doorway symbolically. Pope Alexander kneels on his tomb. The tomb is supported by four female figures. These figures represent Charity and Truth. A skeletal figure of Death comes out of the doorway. It holds an hourglass towards the kneeling pope.

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  The Holy Door is opened only for great celebrations.

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  The tomb of Alexander VII, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1671–1678

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  The bronze statue of Saint Peter holding the keys of heaven, attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio

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  The Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, is in the north aisle.

Archpriests of the Vatican Basilica

The Archpriest is a high-ranking official in charge of St. Peter's Basilica. Here is a list of some of the Archpriests:

Facts and Figures

Here are some interesting facts and figures about St. Peter's Basilica:

More to Explore

In Spanish: Basílica de San Pedro para niños

• Architecture of cathedrals and great churches
• Architecture of Rome
• History of early modern period domes
• List of tallest domes
• Index of Vatican City-related articles
• List of basilicas in Italy
• List of oldest church buildings
• List of Roman Catholic basilicas
• List of tallest buildings in Rome
• List of tallest structures built before the 20th century
• List of tourist attractions in Rome