The Baldacchino

Baroque Canopy marking the location of St. Peter's Tomb

At the heart of St. Peter’s Basilica stands the Papal Altar, located directly above the believed tomb of St. Peter. This altar is the central point for major liturgical celebrations led by the Pope. Made of white marble, it serves as a sacred focal point for worship within the basilica.

Covering the Papal Altar is the magnificent Baldacchino, a massive bronze canopy designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century. Standing nearly 30 meters (98 feet) tall, the Baldacchino is supported by four twisting Solomonic columns, richly decorated with gold accents, intricate details, and bees—symbols of the Barberini family, to which Pope Urban VIII (who commissioned it) belonged. It was comissioned because inititallity St. Peter's Basilica was going to be shaped in the form of a Greek cross with the nave and transepts having equal length. After the nave was lengthened, pilgrims had difficulty seeing the place of St. Peter's tomb from afar. The Baldacchino resolved this problem making the focal point of the basilica noticeable for anyone upon entering the church.

Directly beneath the Baldacchino lies the Confessio, an area that houses the remains of St. Peter, the first Pope. Pilgrims can approach this sacred space, which is illuminated by the glow of 99 oil lamps, symbolizing their devotion to the Church’s foundation.