The Dome of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican – Rome #9
I told you about our visit to St. Peter’s Basilica here. As there was a queue for the dome, we did not visit it in September but waited until November to go up there, with 2-3 tourists this time.
Part 1: Travel Diary
Part 2: Practical Tips
Part 1: Travel Diary
Although museums and tourist attractions are getting closed in Italy, religious monuments are among the exceptions and can still be visited, and paying areas are still open. Access to the dome costs 10€ if you take the elevator and 8€ if you take the stairs. Cash payment only.
The elevator only covers the easiest part, which gives us access to the base of the dome, which is currently under construction, but it will not hinder our visit in any way.
The first part is very easy even if you have to walk up. We are just below the dome. Contrary to the cathedral in Florence, we have a lot more space and the fence is safer and less frightening. We are at the same level as the mosaics, many of which are gilded. It’s great!
There is an even better view of the basilica from here. And I notice these huge letters that I didn’t see when I was down there.
The dome is less impressive than in Florence, but it’s extremely bright. I like it very much!
Then, 300 more steps await us (my legs are still in pain). You can see that everything has been renovated and optimized so that tourists won’t be afraid and won’t die. However, I think that people who are too tall, too fat or too claustrophobic will find the experience horrible. There are passages that are so narrow that even I, being tiny, have to walk curved to the right to follow the curvature of the dome 😀 The small corridor that we take is between the two hulls of the dome, it’s a very surprising experience.
Contrary to Florence, we are in a bird cage. There is no risk, but there is a lot of wind, always bring a scarf, people! In spite of the height (about 120 meters vs. 90 meters in Florence), I’m not afraid.
Admiring Rome from the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is just wonderful. Even more when we are almost alone. We can stay there as long as we want because there’s absolutely no one. You can see the courtyards of the Vatican Museums next door and the Vatican Gardens. Frankly, if I knew it, I would never have paid for the visit of the gardens because we enjoy it better from here 😀
Afterwards, we take the very small stairs to go down….
…. until the enormous statues that adorn the Basilica, which were thought to be small when seen from below… but which are huge in real life.
The same sculptures, but from below…
In short, this is an essential visit, which I highly recommend. Go there on a sunny day, to enjoy the incredible view of Rome (and not to suffer too much from the cold + wind).
Our next article in Rome is here
Did you like this article? Check all our travel diaries in Italy here and in Rome here
Part 2: Practical Tips
- Access to the dome: Cash payment only
- 10€/person with elevator (then stairs required)
- 8€/person with stairs
For more tour ideas, or to book your tickets or guided tours, check out the offers of Civitatis and Viator (a Tripadvisor company) in Rome
You will find the addresses & places mentioned in this article on the personalized Google Maps I made with my sister for Italy here.
