The Piazza San Pietro, a vast elliptical space, lies directly in front of the awe-inspiring St Peter’s Basilica. Located at the heart of the Vatican City, this piazza combines impressive Baroque architecture with rich cultural and religious heritage. For the best introduction to this site, walk up the Via della Conciliazione, the grand avenue leading from the Ponte Sant’Angelo.
At the centre of the piazza stands a 25-metre tall obelisk carved from red granite. It is believed to be 4,000 years old, of Egyptian origin. According to folklore, it was erected here in the year 37 AD by the Emperor Caligula, when the Circus of Nero occupied this location. Other records suggest the obelisk was not brought here until 1568. Two matching fountains, one dating from 1613 and the other from 1675 complement the obelisk.
The piazza’s current design is the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a 17th century Italian Baroque architect, who was commissioned by Pope Alexander VII to create a space to allow the maximum number of people to see the Pope when he gave his blessing from St Peter’s Basilica or the Vatican Palace.
Grand Tuscan colonnades, four rows deep, border the piazza. As you will discover with much of Rome’s architecture, there is often a hidden symbolism in the design. According to Bernini, these colonnades running from St Peter’s Basilica should appear as the church’s arms embracing the visitor. Look up to the top over the colonnades, and you will see many statues depicting saints, including Christ the Redeemer and St John the Baptist.
Whenever you chose to visit, you’ll always find crowds of visitors milling around this atmospheric, historic site. Papal masses are regularly held in the piazza, which can host up to 80,000 worshippers. Tickets are required for seated places, but many stand. The largest event occurs on Easter Day, when pilgrims from all over the world gather to hear the Pope’s annual message.
The Piazza San Pietro can be reached on foot from the city centre. Alternatively, the nearest Metro station is Ottaviano.
