St. Peter's Basilica Basilica Sancti Petri
St. Peter's Basilica is a major papal basilica and architectural landmark in Vatican City, designed by architects including Michelangelo, Giuliano da Sangallo, Donato Bramante, and Raphael. It functions as a parish church and is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, constructed of marble and cement. This site is the most looked-up sight in Vatican City on English Wikipedia and recorded 11 million visitors in 2018.
Planning a visit
The weather is generally mild during spring, with temperatures reaching 18 °C to 22 °C in April and May, and early autumn, where September sees highs of 25 °C. July and August are the warmest months with daily highs of 30 °C. Winter months, specifically January, February, and December, reach highs of 12 °C and experience more rainfall, with November receiving the most rain at 114 mm.
The nearest airport is Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport in Rome, located 16 km from the site. The basilica is located within Vatican City. Visitors may combine a trip with nearby locations such as the Sistine Chapel, which is 0.1 km away, the Gardens of Vatican City at 0.3 km, St. Peter's Square at 0.3 km, the Vatican Museums at 0.5 km, and Castel Sant'Angelo at 1.1 km. The basilica is open Monday through Sunday from 07:00 to 20:00, and wheelchair access is available.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is November, with about 114 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 12 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 12 |
| Average low, °C | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 5 |
| Rainfall, mm | 66 | 66 | 58 | 76 | 54 | 32 | 23 | 30 | 73 | 108 | 114 | 100 |
| Rainy days | 11 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 11 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
