St. Peter’s Basilica Dome Tickets & Tours

Before the climb

Climbing the dome of St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most memorable experiences in Rome, offering unparalleled views of the Vatican City and the sprawling cityscape of Rome. The ascent involves 551 steps, winding through narrow, sometimes steep passageways, which may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with mobility issues, heart conditions, or claustrophobia should carefully consider whether this climb is right for them. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to account for security checks and to ensure you have enough time to enjoy the experience. 

Climbing to the first level

The first level of the dome is up 231 steps. Sounds exhausting? Well, you can skip this part of the  climb and take the elevator. You wind up on the inside of Michelangelo's dome, and from here, you can enjoy the views of the interiors of the basilica from above, explore the mosaics up close, and also explore the roof of the basilica, which houses the statues of Jesus and the apostles that you can see from the square. You can wind down on the roof by shopping at the gift shop and grabbing a snack from the refreshment stand. You will also find a restroom here.

Note: At this level, you are simply viewing the dome up-close from the gallery. To reach the inside of the some you will have to climb a small staircase.

Climbing to the top of the dome

This part of the climb is optional and tricky! There is no elevator for this section, but climbing the next 320 will take you to the absolute top of the Basilica's dome. The single-file staircase spirals up, and the roof tends to slant in as you go up. As you keep climbing the staircase gets narrower, and on the last steps, you will only have a rope to hold on to.

Bramante and Sangallo

1506-1515

Bramante, the original architect of the St. Peter's Basilica, was inspired by the Pantheon. The dome would follow a similar profile, except for the lantern. The supporting wall would become a drum raised on four piers. The wall would be lightened with the help of windows and a peristyle.

Sangallo, who took over in 1513, found inspiration from the Florence Cathedral as well as the Pantheon. He developed on Bramante's plan and converted the peristyle into a series of arched and ordered openings around the base, with a second such arcade in a tier above the first. The lantern became a massive structure, surrounded by a projecting base, and peristyle. This would have been surmounted by a conical spire.

Michelangelo

1547- 1564

When Michelangelo took over as the architect of the Basilica, he redesigned the dome. He took inspiration from the existing designs but modified them to a more realistic, but magnificent one. His dome would be made with two shells of brick and would be raised from piers on a drum. The peristyle and arcaded was replaced by 16 pairs of Corinthian columns, connected by an arch, which would give the dome an ovoid shape.

When Michelangelo died in 1564, only the drum of the dome and piers were complete. The work was continued under his assistant Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola with Giorgio Vasari who followed Michelangelo's plans exactly. However, very little progress was made.

Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana

1585- 1590

The dome was brought to completion by Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana in 1590. They were appointed by Sixtus V. Fontana completed the lantern and had an inscription that would honor Sixtus V during the reign of Gregory XIV. Clement VIII, who followed, had the cross raised in its place.

In the mid-18th century, cracks appeared in the dome, and four iron chains were installed to bind the two shells.