Welcome to this weeks post on the beautiful Piazza San Pietro (St. Peters Square) in Rome, Italy. Located within the  Vatican, it is one of the top attractions to visit when in the city. I first visited here on my honeymoon, and although not the most romantic place in the world due to the hordes of crowds you’ll undoubtedly encounter, it was still well worth a visit.

If you haven’t visited Rome before, you might be unaware that the Vatican State is located within the ancient capital. Not only can you explore one of the most famous cities in the world, but you’ll also get to tick off the world’s smallest country from your bucket list. How cool is that? At just 44 hectares in size, it was officially declared its own country in 1929. Despite its small size, there really is so much to see and do here.

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BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Before visiting the Piazza San Pietro and the Vatican, I recommend doing some research first to know what to expect when you arrive in Italy. Finding out a bit about the neighbourhoods, visa requirements, or even learning some of the customs and cultures goes a long way when you’re here. That’s why I recommend purchasing a copy of the Lonely Planet: Italy before you go. You’ll have the most relevant and up-to-date information, as well as a pull-out map of Rome to help you plan an epic trip. Grab your copy here.

Also, if you like this post, at the end, you can subscribe to keep up to date with my travel adventures receive special offers and inspiration through my newsletter, The Weekly Vine.

A SHORT HISTORY LESSON

You’ll find this clever piece of architectural design within the Vatican. It was designed and built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1656 – 1667, and if you look at it from above, you’ll see that it’s in the shape of a keyhole. It was deliberately done this way so that the round shape would make worshippers feel as though they were stepping into the warm embrace of the mother church, all while guiding them towards the most important cathedral in the whole of Christendom – St. Peters Basilica, located within the Piazza. Pretty clever, right?

There are plenty of features to note while visiting this famous square. For starters, the impressive 284 columns around the edge hold the whole thing in place. Then for a bit more Vatican flare, there’s the brilliant 140 saints which line the edge, looking down on you from above. And lastly is the Obelisk. Located in the center, it will probably be the first thing you’ll see, due to being 25 meters tall. You might be thinking, what on earth is an Egyptian monument doing here? During the reign of Emperor Caligula, Romans had pretty much conquered half the known world. While in Egypt, he brought the Obelisk back from Heliopolis, close to where Cairo is located today. It was later used as a turning post for chariot races during the reign of Nero.

MY VISIT TO THE FAMOUS SQUARE

After visiting the beautiful museums and galleries inside the Vatican, I wanted to see where the Pope conducts mass in Piazza San Pietro (St. Peters Square). It was a good 15-20 minutes walk from the museums, but it was easy to find as all we needed to do was follow the city walls. This stroll allowed me to get a real sense of their sheer scale. I guess it’s no surprise they are so formidable. As the Vatican is officially recognised as the world’s smallest country, it was important they were able to protect the papacy as well as their borders.

When we arrived, the Pope had just finished holding mass in the square, so it was very, very busy. I’d suggest not visiting on the days the Pope holds services – unless you want to see his holiness, so that you can enjoy your visit and avoid the crowds.

The dominant feature in the square is St. Peters Basilica. Although beautiful on the outside, with its blue dome and statues adorning the roof, it’s the interior that really shines. You can get the best views if you approach the square from Via Della Conziliazone, with the Castel Sant’Angelo at one end and the Vatican at the other.

BEWARE OF BEING RIPPED OFF

Although it was busy around the square on my first visit, around 5-10 minutes later, the heavens opened, and we had to run for cover under the thousands of arches in the court. After finding protection from the rain, we began drying off when this guy came over trying to sell me an umbrella. It might have been one of the most expensive plastic umbrellas in the world as his starting price was €30.00! Honestly. With a strong gust of wind, it would have bent and snapped. A bargain, right? Obviously, I didn’t buy it, but he kept trying to sell it to me as we continued walking off up the road, relenting only after several blocks. Watch out for these guys!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

IS THE PIAZZA FREE TO ENTER?

Yes, it’s absolutely free, and so is St. Peters Basilica, also located within the square. It’s one of those places that you won’t believe doesn’t have an entry fee, but who’s complaining? It’s worth noting that this is the only free part of the Vatican, so if you’re tight on dollars (or euros in this case!), you’re in luck.

WHEN IS MASS HELD HERE?

You can find out mass times for Piazza San Pietro here.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN PIAZZA SAN PIETRO HOLD?

Its capacity is truly impressive. A whopping 20,000 people can be seated here, and an even more impressive 60,000 in the standing section. This really does stand to reason why it was sooo busy on my first visit.

DO I NEED TO BOOK A TOUR HERE, AND HOW DO I DO THAT?

No, you don’t need to book a tour. As I’ve visited this area twice, the first time we just looked around on our own, and still enjoyed ourselves. On our second trip, we had a tour guide who took us around Piazza San Pietro, St. Peters Basilica, and the Vatican Museums, which was a much better experience. I genuinely think this enhanced our visit. Book your tour of the Piazza and Vatican Museums here.

ARE THERE HOTELS NEAR PIAZZA SAN PIETRO?

Yes, there are. You can search for the right hotel here.

IS THERE A CHRISTMAS MARKET HELD HERE?

Yes, there is a beautiful traditional market held in the square each year, which sells lots of delicious Italian treats, ornaments, trinkets, gifts, etc. They typically run from early December through to the 6th January. I couldn’t think of a more beautiful spot to enjoy some holiday festivities.

 

BEFORE YOU GO…

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Thanks so much for reading my post today on the Piazza San Pietro, Vatican State in Rome. Despite the vast amount of crowds here on both of my visits, it wouldn’t put me off visiting here again, as it’s such a wonderful place. I hope that you’ve learned some new information that will help you in planning your trip to Rome.

Are you looking to visit Piazza San Pietro? When are you planning on visiting? If you have any questions about this great place, then feel free to ask me in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.

Still looking for more travel inspiration for your next trip? Scroll to the bottom of this page to read my other posts from around the world.