Parks & Gärten
Petersplatz
Saint Peter's Square
Der Petersplatz wurde von Gian Lorenzo Bernini zwischen 1656 und 1667 unter Papst Alexander VII. (1655–1667) vor dem Petersdom in Rom angelegt. Der Petersplatz ist Teil des Territoriums der Vatikanstadt. Die Kolonnaden bilden die Staatsgrenze zwischen der Vatikanstadt und Italien.
What it is
St. Peter's Square is the vast open plaza in front of St. Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City. It was designed as a monumental entrance space, framed by a colonnade of columns arranged in a wide ellipse, with an ancient Egyptian obelisk at its center. Travellers come here to see the piazza itself, to queue for basilica entry, and — on days when the Pope appears — to gather for a public address or blessing.
Getting there
From central Rome, it's typically a 20-30 minute journey. Metro Line A to Ottaviano-San Pietro station leaves about a 10-minute walk to the square, or several bus routes stop nearer to the Vatican walls. Walking from areas like Trastevere or the historic center can take 30-40 minutes along the Tiber.
How much time to allow
Allow at least 30-45 minutes just to take in the square and colonnade. If you plan to enter the basilica as well, budget an additional hour or more, and factor in extra time if there's a line for security screening.
When to go
The square gets busy, especially on Wednesday mornings when general audiences are held and on Sundays around midday for the Angelus. Mornings, particularly right when access opens, tend to be calmer than midday. Summer brings heat with little shade across the open plaza, so an early visit is more comfortable.
What to combine it with
St. Peter's Basilica is right there (0.3km), making it the natural next stop. The Apostolic Palace and Sistine Chapel are both close by (0.2km), and the Vatican Museums, home to the Sistine Chapel entrance, are about 0.5km away — worth planning as a longer combined visit given their scale.
Quellen: offene Daten von Wikipedia und OpenStreetMap · Aktualisiert 5. August 2026 · Redaktion die World by City-Redaktion
