St. Peter’s Basilica (Church)

Allow 1.5 or more hours.

Covering almost 6 acres, St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the world's most famous and beautiful churches. Every space within its walls offers priceless artwork. In many ways, it feels like an immense museum with very large rooms and very high ceilings. Every inch is filled with architectural details, lots of colored marble and gilt stucco, exquisite paintings, and priceless sculptures. The Pietà sculpture by Michelangelo is there but now behind a glass wall after being vandalized in 1972.

When I mention the exquisite paintings I should clarify. The dome and most of the paintings on the walls are actually very intricate mosaics. At a glance, you think they are paintings because of the variety and shades of stone used.

The first time I visited St. Patrick’s Basilica, I was with a friend who had been told by her local priest that she had to make sure she kissed St. Peter’s finger. We looked high and low for mention of his finger in brochures and on the web and found nothing (a first ‘hint’ that we were on the wrong path!) I remembered visiting the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua in Padua, Italy where the patron saint’s tongue and jaw bone are kept in an ornate gold container high on a wall with other artifacts behind the altar. I thought St. Peter’s finger would be held in a similar way and near the main altar given its importance. When we couldn’t find it anywhere while at the Basilica, we even speculated that the priest might have been given special access to some rooms that were closed to the public.

Kissing the Foot of St. Peter

A few days later when I was with my husband visiting, I noticed a line of tourists walking past an ancient bronze statue of St. Peter that my friend and I had either missed or, more likely, was in an area that had been closed to the public when we visited. I can’t see how we missed it given the length of the line and the statue’s prominence in the Basilica. But, when you first enter the Basilica you are awed by its sheer size and splendor so, who knows?!

*St. Peter’s bronze statue in the Basilica. (Photos: Edie L. Kramer)*

As we got closer, we realized it was not St. Peter’s finger that we should have been looking for but rather his foot. According to the Basilica’s website, in the Middle Ages pilgrims who reached Rome, would touch and kiss the foot of the statue, praying to St. Peter for mercy and to open the gates of heaven for them should they die during the pilgrimage.

Today, because of centuries of contact, the right toes are worn so thin that they blend together with the rest of the foot. Most visitors touch the foot and move on or say a quick prayer. For some, it is still an important part of their pilgrimage. I immediately texted my friend a picture of the statue, embarrassed by our ignorance. We agreed our visit was still a beautiful experience, even if we missed touching St. Peter’s foot.

Know Before you Go

St. Peter’s is free to all. Before you enter, you will need to go through security including metal detectors so expect a bit of a line. Cameras are allowed but no tripods. Dress appropriately for a sacred place (covered shoulders, neckline, and knees). For those interested, multiple daily masses are held at various altars within the Basilica.

St. Peter is considered the most important of the twelve apostles. He was the first Pope, and the Basilica and Square are named after him. The remains of his tomb are buried under the Basilica’s high (main) altar.