St. Peter’S Square

St. Peter’s Square is the grand open space located in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, at the heart of Vatican City, and can accommodate more than 80,000 people. Designed in the 17th century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the square is renowned for its elliptical colonnade, composed of 284 columns arranged in four rows. These columns symbolize the embracing arms of the Catholic Church, welcoming the faithful from around the world. Above the colonnades stand 140 statues of saints, while at the center rises the large papal coat of arms of Pope Alexander VII, under whose pontificate the square was completed. St. Peter’s Square is also the setting for some of the Church’s most significant public ceremonies, where the faithful gather to witness and participate in historic events, most notably the inauguration of a new Pope.