The construction of St. Peter’s Basilica took over a century in the making.The planning of the Basilica started when Pope Julius II commissioned a competition to design the grandest building in Christendom. The winner of the competition was Donato Bramante, and the foundation stone was laid in 1506. A series of deaths and personnel changes led to the change of architects from Bramante to Raphael to eventually Michelangelo in 1547.
The St. Peter's Basilica dome and the architecture are accredited to the brilliance of Michelangelo who based it on the designs of Bramante. The Basilica is built in the traditional Renaissance architecture and has been an inspiration for church buildings across the world. The iconic facade was designed by Maderno and remains an unforgettable memory in millions of pilgrims who visit it each year to see the Pope.
The meeting point is at the desk located under the portico of St. Peter's Basilica after the security checks at least 15 minutes before the booked time. It will be sufficient to show your reservation to the staff of the Basilica.
Not available on Vatican holidays.
Duration: about 1 hour
Available languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish.
THE SECURITY CHECKS TO ACCESS THE BASILICA COULD BE LONG (ABOUT 30/40 MINUTES). PLEASE COME EARLY TO REACH THE MEETING POINT ON TIME.
