Saint Peter's Square, Square in Vatican City, Holy See
Saint Peter's Square is a plaza in Vatican City made of a trapezoidal forecourt and an oval enclosed by four Tuscan colonnades, four columns deep, with 284 columns and 88 pilasters supporting a continuous entablature topped by 96 marble statues. At the center of the oval stands the red granite Vatican obelisk, 25.5 m tall, on bronze lions and crowned by the Chigi arms in bronze.
Bernini redesigned the forecourt from 1667 to 1676 under Pope Alexander VII, so that crowds could see the pope bless them from the basilica façade or a Vatican Palace window. He used Tuscan columns four deep, and in 1675 matched Maderno's 1613 granite fountain on the opposite side.
The square takes its name from the apostle whose tomb lies beneath the basilica. Pilgrims from around the world gather here to attend ceremonies or receive papal blessings delivered regularly from the balcony above.
The square is freely accessible every day and offers a level surface suitable for wheelchair users. Early morning hours are quieter and allow a relaxed walk without large crowds.
An ancient obelisk from Egypt has stood at the center since the 16th century and marks the midpoint of the square. This stone pillar is one of the few that has never toppled and remains continuously upright.
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