Why You Should Explore St Peter’s Square?

Join Our Vatican Tours to Visit St Peter’s Square

St Peter’s Square sits in the heart of the Vatican and is probably one of the most recognisable parts of this small, sovereign state. The square itself is incredibly impressive, boasting a collection of ancient architecture and history that dates back thousands of years.

Here, you can pretty much do everything the Vatican has to offer, from witnessing the Pope’s weekly blessing and sipping a coffee on the sidewalk, to exploring the famous frescoes that adorn the walls of the Sistine Chapel.

If you need any more convincing, here are some of the key reasons why you should take the time to explore this incredible part of the Vatican.

The Bernini Colonnade

The architecture of St Peter’s Square is second to none, and the Bernini Colonnade is proof of that. To one side of the square, the buildings are flanked with an opulent colonnade that carves a beautiful frame into the skyline. The colonnade was designed by Bernini, and was originally erected to depict the open arms of the Holy Mother Church.

Keep Track of Time with the Obelisk

At the centre of St Peter’s Square, you’ll find the most prominent piece of architecture – the soaring Egyptian Obelisk. It was originally brought over to Rome by Caligula back in 37 BC and it was planted in the heart of the square to mark the middle point of games and executions that later became known as the Circus of Nero.

Today, visitors can still use the sundial for its ancient use – telling the time. Simply use its shadow to determine the hour.

Stand in Two Countries

Though the Vatican sits snug inside Rome, it is technically a separate country, which means that you can easily have one foot in one country and the other foot in another – how many places are there in the world where you can you say you’ve done that? Most of the border is actually walled, but there’s a section that cuts through the centre of the square where there is just a thick white line separating the two countries.

See the Pope

St Peter’s Square is one of the only places in Rome where you have a high chance of seeing the Pope. Every week he comes out on to the balcony of the Papal residence to do a blessing to the thousands of visitors who have flocked to the square especially for the occasion.

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