The Basilica of Saint Peter (Basilica di San Pietro) dominates the Vatican. You can see its Michelangelo designed dome from a great distance away. Inside, St. Peter's dome is almost as big as the Pantheon.
Saint Peter's tomb is said to be found below the altar, but over 100 others are burried in the Basilica of Saint Peter, including 91 popes.
St. Peter's Basilica recently celebrated its 500th anniversary; the cornerstone of St. Peter's was set on April 18th, 1506 by Pope Julius II.
Lines to visit the Basilica are quite long, especially on summer mornings. The best time to visit St. Peter's is the off-season, of course, especially if you plan on seeing the Vatican Museums at the same time.
Enjoy our pictures of St. Peter's Basilica. Click on each picture to see it larger.
- Picture of the Basilica of St. Peter or St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican Citybasilica, st. peter, st peters basilica picture, picture
- St. Peter's Basilica Picture: Entrance Linest. peters basilica, san pietro, picture, entrance line
- Picture of the Colonnade and the Dome of St. Petersbernini, colonnade picture, dome, st. peters
- Picture of St. Peter holding the key to heaven statue in St. Peter's squarest peters square pictrue, st peter, key to heaven, vatican city, picture
- Picture of Bernini's Piazza di San Pietro with fountiain and three nuns.st. peters square picture, fountain, piazza di san pietro, picture
- Picture of the Passetto, a secret passageway.passetto picture, passetto di borgo, secret passage, vatican, castel sant'angelo
- Picture of a tower of the Passettopassetto picture, tower, picture
- Picture of light streaming from the Dome of St. Peter's Basilicadome, st. peters basilica, vatican, picture
- Inside the Dome of St. Peter's Basilicast peter basilica, picture, dome
- Pictures of the Swiss Guards in front of St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City.swiss guards picture, vatican city, swiss guards, picture
- Alexander VII Monument by Berninialexander vii, monument, bernini, st. peters, picture
- Picture of the Door to the Basilica of St. Peterdoor, picture, basilica st peter
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