Saint Peter's Square

Vatican City, Holy See

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Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City is a grandiose plaza designed by the architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667 under the direction of Pope Alexander VII.

The square features an elliptical space measuring about 196 by 149 meters, surrounded by sweeping colonnades made up of 284 Tuscan columns arranged in four rows that symbolize the welcoming arms of the Church. The trapezoidal-shaped forecourt connects the square to the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica.

At the square’s center stands an ancient Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula, topped with a cross symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice. Two fountains, designed by Carlo Maderno and Bernini, accentuate the space. The square serves as a place for papal audiences, religious ceremonies, and gatherings of the faithful, embodying a dramatic Baroque theatricality that enhances the awe-inspiring presence of the basilica and invokes a sense of spiritual embrace.

It attracts millions of visitors annually, standing as a monumental symbol of the Catholic Church’s global reach and heritage.