• Brief description: St. Peter´s Basilica was erected above the site where the founder of the Catholic church was buried. The current building (constructed on top of the original that was demolished in 1506) was designed by a group of architects and artists, among whom were to be found Alberti, Raphael and Michelangelo. This last artist was responsible for the enormous dome, although he died in 1564, 26 years before the work was completed. In the interior of the basilica you can observe Michelangelo´s "Piety" (first chapel on the right), the bronze statue of St. Peter, whose feet are kissed by the faithful (central aisle) and the extravagant St. Peter´s Throne by Bernini (above the papal altar). We recommend that you also go to the subterrenean grottoes where you can find tombs of the popes. If you wish, you can go up to the dome (lift or stairs) from where you can take in superb views of the city of Rome. When the Pope is in Rome, he emerges to greet the crowds every Sunday at 12.00 from a window overlooking St. Peter´s Square.
• Length of visit: 1h
• Opening times of St Peter's Basilica: 07:00-19:00 (Apr-Sep) // 07:00-18:00 (Oct-Mar)
• Opening times to access the dome: 08:00-18:00 (Abr-Sep) // 08:00-17:00 (Oct-Mar).
• Cost: free entrance to the basilica and the tombs. Access to the dome: 7€ by lift, 5€ by the stairs (it´s worth paying the extra 2 €).
• How to get there: on the other side of the museum, going round it along the Via di Porta Angelica.
• Note: there is a very strict dress code: short trousers or skirts are not permitted and neither are bared shoulders.