St Peter's Square

Bernini's vast oval square in front of St Peter's Basilica, embraced by curving colonnades of 284 columns, with an Egyptian obelisk in the centre. Stand on one of the discs between the obelisk and the fountains and the four rows of columns line up as one.

The Pope gives the Angelus blessing from a window of the Apostolic Palace at noon on Sundays. The square fills for Easter and Christmas masses.