Saint Peter's

I have to say this is incredible. The architecture and sculptures... WOW! While visiting, ponder ‘religion as a profitable business’. Plan enough time to climb the cupola.

Important: The comments express are mine and in no way intended to promote any product, service or tour. Also, I’m not here to write full ‘play by play’ reports on my experience simply to provide short first hand personal impression. As with all comments, reviews, recommendations on the internet, in books or magazines, they are SUBJECTIVE! We all have individual likes and dislikes and it is your responsibility to perform your own ‘due diligence’ and make educated choices. The bottom line… we live on an amazing planet and I’ve been fortunate enough to have explored a large piece of it. My only suggestion would be to get out there and enjoy every bit of it whenever you’re able.

Saint Peter's Basilica is one of the most impressive religious buildings in the world. The cathedral is the most important building in all of Christendom and is also probably the most imposing, iconic and lavish. The church is flanked by two colonnades which also encompass much of Saint Peter's Square. The square is a beautiful, open space with an obelisk and two large fountains in its centre. Piazza San Pietro almost always has hundreds of people admiring the Basilica but the space is so large that the piazza is rarely crowded. Though on Wednesday mornings the Pope gives mass in the square which draws thousands of people.

Entrance through the church is through the security check at the colonnades and queues can at times be long but they often move swiftly enough. Visitors to Saint Peter's must be properly attired and it's important to remember that shoulders and legs should be covered. If you do forget there are often street vendors nearby selling unflattering, one size fits all, disposable clothes.

Inside the church, though often crowded, is relatively quiet. As if the gargantuan size of the interior has all within dumbstruck in awe. People are very respectful and keep conversation to a whisper, which is nice because it adds to the atmosphere inside. The Pieta is on display and it can't be missed as it sits so close to the entrance and always has a crowd of people around it. The church is stunning, cavernous, with soaring arches and is often beautifully lit by the Roman sun. The only thing that challenges the heights of the ceiling is the spectacularly ornate ebony altar lying beneath the dome.

No trip to Saint Peter's is complete without an ascent to the top of the cupola. There is a small fee but it is well worth it. The entry point is in the front portico to the left. The climb to the roof is up a long, wide spiral staircase and from the roof you can access the trickier climb to the dome. The spiral staircase here is much, much narrower and most people take this part slow. The views afforded from the top are beautiful, especially the view of the piazza below. Unfortunately the top is often a little crowded but it's still easy enough to move around.

Another point of interest for many travellers is the crypt beneath Saint Peter's and the tomb of the late Pope John Paul II. The crypt itself is one of the more unremarkable parts of Saint Peter's but many visitors wish to see the resting place of the former pope. Don't expect a pictorial tribute and an elegant tomb. It is an appropriately austere slab with a simple inscription. The tomb is a place for people to show their respect, not a photo op.

Saint Peter's is a stunning icon of Rome and one of the main tourist destinations in all of Italy.

Even if you aren't religious, entering this building will inspire awe and reverence. It is simply colossal, and once you step inside it's impossible to not feel overwhelmed by it all. Along the sides of the ceiling are golden letters that appear tiny from distance, but are in reality 6ft high. Everything inside is built to such a monumental scale that it is easy to lose your sense of perspective. Without a doubt it is the most mind-blowing structure I have been in. I can't imagine how it must have felt to have entered it 300 years ago, when most buildings were probably shacks in comparison, and there were no such things as skyscrapers.

Once you enter, directly to your right will be Michaelangelo's Pieta. Unfortunately, some lunatic attacked it with a hammer a few years ago, so it's behind a protective glass covering, and you can't really walk around and get a good look at it. Some interesting things to note are how tiny the Christ figure is and how young the Virgin Mary looks.

At the opposite end of the church you'll find Bernini's massive bronze Baldacchino. The project was sponsored by the Barberini family and a fun thing to do is to see how many of the Barberini bee's you can spot among the sculpture. If you look closely, you can also see a lot of different flora and fauna carved into the work.

Another fun thing to do is to go to the top of the basilica to get a good view of Rome. This costs a bit of extra money, but is well worth it. You can either take the stairs (cheaper, and not too strenuous) or the elevator (more expensive). If you opt to take the stairs you'll also get a first-hand view on how large the gold lettering along the ceiling really is.

Oh yea, the dress code is somewhat strict here, so no sleeveless shirts for girls or shorts for guys.