St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

Experience the reverence of the Pope--and the heart of Catholicism--in the historic St. Peter's Square, the area in front of St. Peter's Basilica. During the Pope's weekly blessing, the plaza is filled with thousands of spectators. During the rest of the week, you can admire 17th-century Baroque architecture and the massive stone colonnades that frame the entrance to the basilica. A 25.5 m (84 ft) tall red-granite Egyptian obelisk marks the center of the plaza. For St. Peter's Square and beyond, use our Vatican City trip planning website to get the most from your Vatican City vacation.