St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City (Rome, Italy), is considered the most important temple in Catholicism, the Christian church with the largest interior space in the world, and one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance. Photo provided by Civitatis.
Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is an unforgettable experience, made even more special in 2026, the 400th anniversary of its consecration: an ideal time to discover this church, one of the greatest symbols of Christianity and an artistic and architectural masterpiece, whose digital twin can be explored online from anywhere in the world.
St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, (Rome, Italy), considered the most important temple of Catholicism, the Christian church with the largest interior space in the world and one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance, and where most pontifical ceremonies are currently held, was consecrated on November 18, 1626 by Pope Urban VIII Barberini.
In Catholicism, the ‘consecration’ or ‘dedication’ is the solemn liturgical ceremony or rite during which a church formally receives its name and blessing, and in which a bishop anoints the building and altar of that church with holy chrism, a special consecrated oil, setting them apart permanently and exclusively for the worship of God, according to ecclesiastical sources.
And what better time could there be to visit this Basilica, center of Christendom and magnificent work of art, architecture and faith, than on the fourth centenary of its consecration?
The visit, whether to discover this remarkable church for the first time or to revisit it and discover aspects that we previously overlooked, can be done in person, discovering areas that were not previously accessible to the public, or virtually, through an application for computers, tablets and mobile phones.
Through technology, the Basilica can also be visited virtually via computer, tablet or mobile phone, with the ‘3D Virtual Tour’ option available at https://virtual.basilicasanpietro.va/en, which allows you to experience the church in an immersive way, discovering its features and exploring details impossible to capture with the naked eye.
“Four centuries after its consecration, St. Peter’s Basilica remains one of the most impressive places to visit in Rome and the world,” David Fernández, head of communications at Civitatis, a platform specializing in guided tours, excursions and activities in Spanish and Portuguese (https://www.civitatis.com/es), explained to EFE.
“There are places that impress even before you cross the threshold, and one of them is this Basilica, one of the most well-known and famous churches in the world, considered one of the great symbols of Rome and Christianity, revered for its impressive Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and built over more than 100 years until it was completed,” he points out.
“Its enormous square and the 284 Bernini columns that surround it, as well as its dome, which dominates the Rome skyline, foreshadow the magnitude of one of the most important temples in the world, which was one of the most ambitious architectural projects of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and stands on the site where, according to Christian tradition, the apostle Saint Peter was buried,” Fernández points out.
It points out that St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most visited monuments in the world, which according to official data receives an average of 12 million visitors a year, which is equivalent to about 33,000 people per day, while in October 2025 more than 100,000 visitors were recorded in a single day.
To mark the 400th anniversary of its consecration, Civitatis experts have designed a tour of some of the corners, works of art and spaces that are “must be seen” inside St. Peter’s Basilica, making it an unforgettable visit for every traveler who comes to Rome.
Michelangelo’s Pietà.
“As soon as you enter the basilica, in a chapel located to the right, you will find one of Michelangelo’s most famous sculptures and also one of the most famous works of the Renaissance,” explains Fernández.
“The Pietà depicts the Virgin Mary holding the body of Christ and was created by the artist when he was still very young,” the spokesman noted.
He points out that “besides its extraordinary level of detail, the work holds a curious feature: it is the only sculpture that Michelangelo signed. His name can be seen on the sash that crosses the Virgin’s chest, a detail that often goes unnoticed by those who contemplate the work for the first time.”
Bernini’s Baldacchino.
“At almost 30 meters high, the Baldacchino of St. Peter rises under the great dome and above the papal altar, being the main protagonist of the center of the basilica,” explains Fernández.
Designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century, its enormous bronze Solomonic columns make it virtually impossible to pass by without stopping to contemplate this extraordinary structure, he adds.
“Its location is not random: the baldachin marks one of the most important points of the basilica: under the altar is the tomb of Saint Peter, considered by the Catholic Church to be the first Pope,” he explains.
Michelangelo’s dome.
“Michelangelo redefined the design of the dome in the 16th century, shaping one of the great icons of Rome’s skyline. The experience changes completely when you climb to the top of the dome, which offers one of the best panoramic views of the city,” explains the Civitatis expert.
“From its top, you can see St. Peter’s Square, the Via della Conciliazione, and a large part of the Italian capital. Before reaching the viewpoint, the tour also allows you to approach the interior of the dome itself and observe the dimensions of the basilica from another perspective,” he emphasizes.
Colossal dimensions and symbolic details.
“St. Peter’s Basilica is much more than its great masterpieces,” according to Fernández, since “each chapel, sculpture or monument hides centuries of history and symbolism that, on many occasions, go unnoticed during a self-guided visit,” he points out.
He points out that “many travelers leave impressed by the dimensions of St. Peter’s Basilica, but what really makes a visit to this remarkable church special is understanding the meaning of the works it houses.”
“The advice that visitors receive during a guided tour is fundamental, because it helps them discover details, stories and curiosities that would otherwise go completely unnoticed,” emphasizes David Fernández.
Where is the tomb of Saint Peter?
“Under the main altar of the basilica is one of its most significant places: the tomb attributed to the apostle Saint Peter,” according to this specialist.
He adds that “Christian tradition places the burial of this prominent apostle at this spot after his martyrdom in Rome, which is why the first basilica was built here in the 4th century by order of Emperor Constantine.”
“Around the tomb is the Vatican Necropolis, a space that preserves ancient Roman and early Christian burials,” he points out.
“Exploring this space allows you to descend, literally, to the origins of St. Peter and understand why the basilica was built precisely in this place,” he emphasizes.
How much does it cost to visit the Basilica?
Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, making it one of Rome’s must-see attractions accessible to all travelers, according to this tourism expert.
Fernández recommends “dedicating between one and two hours to exploring its interior at a leisurely pace and stopping at some of its emblematic works, such as Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s Baldacchino, or the Chair of Saint Peter.”
“For those who wish to better understand the history and artistic significance of the temple, there are guided tours, which allow you to discover many details that usually go unnoticed by the visitor who makes the visit without the proper guidance (www.civitatis.com/es/roma/subida-cupula-san-pedro), according to Fernández.
Opening of new areas and virtual tours.
To mark the 400th anniversary of the Basilica, an architectural and artistic project in which geniuses such as Donato Bramante, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Carlo Maderno worked, areas that were not accessible to the public will be opened, such as the entire terrace, which will house a permanent exhibition on the history, construction and maintenance of this monumental church, as announced.
In addition to incorporating a new pictorial version of the Stations of the Cross, 14 oil paintings by the Swiss painter Manuel Dürr, the Basilica will double the space of the currently existing restoration area and the large pavilions of the Gregorian and Clementine domes will be opened, with educational proposals specially designed for children and young people.
To better manage visitor flow for the fourth centenary of St. Peter’s Basilica, a new digital access system, SmartPass, will be implemented, integrated into the basilica’s official website (www.basilicasanpietro.va/es), along with a network of sensors that will allow real-time monitoring of people’s presence and improve security.
Thanks to a collaboration between the Vatican, and the firms Iconem and Microsoft, and the use of photogrammetry technologies, artificial intelligence and digitization of information on electronic media, a digital twin of the Basilica has been created with thousands of images, making it possible to explore it in detail from anywhere in the world (https://youtu.be/5dQI_TXYJbU).
Daniel Galilea. EFE – Reports
