St. Peter's Square (Italian: Piazza San Pietro) is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. The square is named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus considered by Catholics to be the first Pope.
St. Peter's Square was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1656 to 1667, under the direction of Pope Alexander VII.
According to Christian tradition, Peter was crucified here under Emperor Nero. He is traditionally counted as the first pope.
Catholic tradition holds that the basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, chief among Jesus's apostles and also the first Pope.
At the center of the square stands an uninscribed Egyptian obelisk of red granite, around 25 meters tall, supported on bronze lions and surmounted by the Chigi arms in bronze.
The obelisk was originally erected at Heliopolis, Egypt, by an unknown pharaoh. The Emperor Augustus had the obelisk moved to the Julian Forum of Alexandria, then Caligula ordered the forum demolished and the obelisk transferred to Rome in AD 37.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard (Latin: Pontificia Cohors Helvetica) is a minor armed forces and honour guards unit that protects the Pope and the Apostolic Palace. The guards attract the attention of tourists by their distinctly Renaissance appearances.
