Church, mosque or temple
Sistine Chapel
Vatican City, Vatican City
The chapel with Michelangelo's famous ceiling and the Last Judgment.
Square · Vatican City · Vatican City
St Peter's Square
Bernini's huge oval square, framed by curved colonnades.
Free to enter about 30 min
For storytellers
Why St Peter's Square matters
The square is where crowds gather to see the Pope. Bernini designed the curved colonnades in the seventeenth century to appear like arms embracing the faithful. An Egyptian obelisk stands in the centre, and fountains flank it.
Talking points
- Bernini's colonnades curve like open arms.
- An ancient Egyptian obelisk stands in the middle.
- Huge crowds gather for papal events.
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.
More in Vatican City
Church, mosque or temple
St Peter's Basilica
Vatican City, Vatican City
The greatest church of Catholicism, with a soaring Renaissance dome.
Museum
Vatican Museums
Vatican City, Vatican City
A vast complex of galleries holding some of the world's finest art.
Viewpoint
Dome of St Peter's
Vatican City, Vatican City
Climb Michelangelo's dome for a panorama over Rome.
Also nearby
Within about 40 km, closest first.