11 things you never knew about St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City

As the Vatican City becomes the world focus during Pope Francis’ funeral and conclave, we uncover the history and secrets of one of the world’s most famous churches. 

Scale meets detail in this once in a lifetime structure.

1. It is not the biggest church in the world

For centuries, few structures could even come close in terms of scale. It’s 182 metres long and 130 metres tall at the highest point of the dome. Aside from the annoying habit of referring to it as Saint Pete’s, Americans will also tell you could fit the Statue of Liberty inside it. The biggest church in the world, Yamoussoukro Basilica is actually in the Cote d’Ivoire and for perspective has a dome 19 metres higher than St Peters. One for the trivia buffs.

Yamssoukro Cathedral in Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest.

2. It’s a rebuild

Back in 324AD, the first St Peters was knocked up - as it were - and it was still going strong in 800AD when Charlemagne spent his Christmas Day being crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Eight of the original columns from the altar are all that remain in the current building.

What you see today is St Peter's Basilica second iteration.

3. It’s home to a real life dead pope

In fact, it is the final resting place of 91 ex pontiffs and, for some reason, Queen Christina of Sweden. Perhaps the most unusual is Innocent XI, who was Holy Father in the 17th Century. His body - fully clothed and with a mask over his face- can be viewed via a grate in an illuminated tomb.

The tomb of Pope Innocent XI.

4. It is the world’s holiest art gallery

Works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Donatello and Michelangelo (more on him later) can be found throughout the church. Interestingly, much of the striking art is glass or ceramic mosaics as back in the day, the high humidity in the structure was damaging to canvases. 

St. Peter's Basilica is filled with art from some of Italy's most famous artists.

5. The Pieta story

Michelangelo - who famously said “the sculpture is already complete within the marble block before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material” - created the Pieta statue of Mary and Jesus that sits within the church. He was just 23.

It has occupied several sites over the centuries and in the 1700s Mary lost four fingers as she was shifted about. These were repaired in 1736. In 1972, however, a deranged Hungarian-Aussie geologist named Laslo Toth attacked the statue with a hammer while screaming he was the reincarnation of Jesus. He struck 15 blows before being subdued and damaged the statue extensively. The next year the Vatican erected a protective screen around it and in 2024 this was upgraded to a bulletproof shatterproof version.

Michelangelo's magnificent Pieta statue in St Peter's.

6. The Michelangelo story

It’s amazing what vanity will do. After Michelangelo heard the Pieta attributed to another sculptor Cristofor Solari, he went back to the Basilica and carved the words "MICHAELA[N]GELUS BONAROTUS FLORENTIN[US] FACIEBA[T]" (meaning "Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florentine, made this") on the sash across Mary's chest”. It was the only artwork he ever signed.

The Pieta is the only artwork Michelangelo ever signed.

7. It has a holy door which is rarely opened

2025 happens to be a Jubilee Year and the hundreds of thousand of pilgrims it attracts have the opportunity to access the church through this entranceway where they are freed from suffering the consequences of their sins on earth.

The Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica is set to be opened in the Jubilee of 2025.

Walking through it is said to free you from your sins.

8. There are 140 saints looking down on you

Between 1662 and 1703, these statues were added to the top of the colonnade in St Peter's Square.

The statues of 140 saints occupy the facade of Saint Peter Basilica in Vatican City.

9. The Baldacchino was a divisive addition

At almost 30 metres tall, this bronze canopy is undoubtedly one of the most striking elements of the basilica. Created in 1623 by famed Italian artist Bernini, it functions both as a high altar and a signal post to St Peter’s tomb beneath. Some of the bronze was apparently sourced from the ancient Roman parthenon which some locals weren’t keen on while others thought the structure too gaudy for a church that emphasised humility and shunned ostentation.

Bernini's Baldacchino stirred controversy when it was first buit.

10. It’s a long way to the top

The stairs to the top of St Peter’s Dome were not constructed with tourists in mind. There are 491 steps and in some sections things are so cramped there isn’t even room for hand rails. Which means you grab hold of a rope that runs down the path.  If 491 is too big a number, there is a lift that cuts the journey by about half.

It's 491 steps to the top of St Peter's Basilica.

11. The one smooth foot of St Peter

Take a close look at the bronze statue of St Peter and you’ll notice distinct toes on his left foot and a smooth finish on the other. This is because rubbing or kissing the right one is said to bring luck.

The right foot of St Peter has been rubbed smooth.

Originally published as 11 things you never knew about St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City