St. Peter's Square

St. Peter's Square is a large plaza right in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. This special area is named after Saint Peter, an important follower of Jesus who many Catholics believe was the first Pope. The square is located in the papal enclave of Rome, just west of the neighborhood called Borgo.

In the middle of the square stands the Vatican obelisk, an ancient Egyptian obelisk placed there in 1586. Almost 100 years later, the famous designer Gian Lorenzo Bernini created the square's shape, including big stone columns that welcome visitors like open arms. There are also beautiful fountains in the square, one made by Bernini in 1675 and another made earlier by Carlo Maderno in 1613.

History

The open space in front of St. Peter's Basilica was redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1676 and 1667. He created this space so that many people could see the Pope give his blessing. Bernini used large colonnades to organize the area, making it feel grand and impressive.

The square has many interesting features. In the center stands the Vatican obelisk, a tall stone monument brought from Egypt long ago. The paving of the square has lines that make it less boring, and circular stones mark where the shadow of the obelisk falls at different times of the year. The square can be reached from Ponte Sant'Angelo along the Via della Conciliazione, a wide road built after older buildings were removed.