Vatican City (AFP) – The entire terrace of St. Peter's Basilica will be open to the public, a renovation that includes the installation of a cafe, the Vatican announced this Monday.
First modification: 02/16/2026 - 17:53
The changes are part of initiatives to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the inauguration of the basilica, the largest church in the world, which has great symbolism for Catholics.
"The entire terrace of the basilica will be accessible," whereas until now only a third of it was open, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the basilica, said at a news conference.
The current "refreshment area will be doubled" and will be 100 square meters, he added.
The Vatican had previously tried to downplay reports that there would be a café on the terrace, causing anger over the potential commercialization of a sacred site.
There will also be exhibitions on the terrace, including for children, related to the history of the monument, its construction and maintenance.
About 20,000 people visit the basilica daily, a jewel of Renaissance architecture, so managing income is a very important challenge.
The Vatican on Monday announced a real-time reservation system for access to the basilica, powered by a network of sensors that monitor how many people are inside.
In addition, it launched a new application for liturgies in the basilica, which will make it easier for pilgrims to follow Pope Leo XIV's mass in 60 languages through their cell phones.
The basilica, located in Vatican City, the smallest state in the world, contains the tomb of Saint Peter, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and who was the first pope.
The foundation stone for the basilica, which replaced an older church, was laid by Pope Julius II in 1506, and construction was completed in 1626.
© 2026 AFP
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