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Vatican City, Borgo & Prati
æ Top Sights
1 Castel Sant'Angelo ................................. G5
2 St Peter's Basilica................................... C5
3 St Peter's Square.................................... D5
4 Vatican Museums................................... C4
Rome & L a zio R
æ Sights
5 Sistine Chapel ......................................... C5
Ø Activities, Courses & Tours
6 Arco di Druso........................................... D2
Art Studio Café.............................. (see 26)
7 Roma Cristiana ........................................E6
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ÿ Sleeping
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8 Casa di Accoglienza Paolo VI................ B3
9 Colors Hotel..............................................F4
10 Hotel Bramante........................................E5
11 Hotel San Pietrino....................................D1
12 Le Stanze di Orazio................................. G3
stone piers, named after the saints whose
statues adorn the Bernini-designed niches –
Longinus, Helena, Veronica and Andrew.
At the base of the Pier of St Longinus,
to the right as you face the high altar, is a
bronze statue of St Peter, believed to be
a 13th-century work by Arnolfo di Cambio.
It’s a much-loved piece and its right foot has
been worn down by centuries of kisses and
caresses.
DOME
To climb the dome, the entrance is to the
right of the basilica. A small lift takes you
halfway up, but it’s still a long climb to
the top (320 steps). Press on, however, and
you’re rewarded with stunning views. It’s
well worth the effort, but bear in mind that
it’s a long and tiring climb and not recom-
mended for those who suffer from claustro-
phobia or vertigo.
MUSEO STORICO ARTISTICO
Accessed from the left nave, the Museo Stor-
ico Artistico sparkles with sacred relics and
priceless artefacts, including a tabernacle by
Donatello and the 6th-century Crux Vati-
cana, a jewel-studded cross that was a gift of
the emperor Justinian II.
VATICAN GROTTOES
Extending beneath the basilica, the Vatican
Grottoes were created as a burial place for
popes. You’ll see the tombs and sarcophagi
ú Eating
13 Dal Toscano .............................................D3
14 Dolce Maniera.......................................... E2
15 Fatamorgana............................................ D1
16 Gelarmony................................................H2
17 Hostaria Dino e Tony ..............................D2
18 Mondo Arancina ......................................H2
19 Old Bridge.................................................D4
20 Osteria dell'Angelo.................................. D1
21 Pizzarium..................................................A3
22 Pizzeria Amalfi ......................................... E3
23 Ristorante L'Arcangelo.......................... H4
24 Romeo.......................................................E3
25 Velavevodetto Ai Quiriti..........................G2
û Drinking & Nightlife
26 Art Studio Café ........................................G3
27 Passaguai .................................................E4
ý Entertainment
28 Alexanderplatz.........................................C2
of many popes, as well as several huge col-
umns from the original 4th-century basilica.
TOMB OF ST PETER
Excavations beneath the basilica have un-
covered part of the original church and what
the Vatican believes is the Tomb of St Peter.
In 1942 the bones of an elderly, strongly built
man were found in a box hidden behind a
wall covered by pilgrims’ graffiti. After more
than 30 years of forensic examination, in
1976 Pope Paul VI declared the bones to be
those of St Peter.
The excavations can only be visited on
a 90-minute guided tour. To book a spot,
email the Ufficio Scavi (scavi@fsp.va).
oSt Peter’s Square PIAZZA
(Piazza San Pietro; Map p106; m Ottaviano–San
Pietro) The Vatican’s grand central space,
St Peter’s Square was designed by baroque
artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini and laid out
between 1656 and 1667. Seen from above,
it resembles a giant keyhole with two semi-
circular colonnades, each consisting of four
rows of Doric columns, encircling a giant el-
lipse that straightens out to funnel believers
into the basilica. The effect was deliberate –
Bernini described the colonnades as repre-
senting ‘the motherly arms of the church’.
The 25m obelisk in the centre was
brought to Rome by Caligula from Heliopo-
lis in Egypt and later used by Nero as a turn-
ing post for the chariot races in his circus.