Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

New snack bar in St Peter’s Basilica to mark 400th anniversary

Related: Thousands queue to view Pope lying in state at Vatican's St Peter's Basilica
  • The Vatican is commemorating the 400th anniversary of St Peter’s Basilica’s consecration with a series of visitor-focused enhancements.
  • New initiatives include expanded access to the basilica's terrace, an upgraded snack bar, and a streamlined online reservation system to reduce queues.
  • Further improvements involve simultaneous translations for Masses in up to 60 languages and a new permanent exhibition detailing the basilica's rich history.
  • The upgraded snack bar, which generated media discussion about serving food in a sacred space, was defended by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti as acceptable for visitors.
  • These initiatives, sponsored by Italian energy giant ENI, commemorate the consecration in 1626 by Pope Urban VIII of St. Peter’s
In full

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in