St. Peter Square Obelisk

Center of St. Peter’s Square, Holy See

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The St. Peter Square Obelisk is a striking ancient Egyptian monument located at the center of St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Made of red granite, it stands about 25.3 meters (approximately 83 feet) tall, and with its base and bronze cross on top, it reaches nearly 40 meters (about 131 feet) in height. The obelisk weighs around 330 tons and features four bronze lions at its base, crafted by Prospero Antichi. Originally erected in Heliopolis, Egypt, it was brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula in 40 AD and placed at the Circus of Nero, an area now part of Vatican City.

The obelisk was relocated to its current position in 1586 under Pope Sixtus V’s direction in a challenging engineering feat led by architect Domenico Fontana. It serves as a symbol of the connection between ancient history and Christianity, standing as a centerpiece designed to orient the massive St. Peter’s Square, which was later constructed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

The obelisk is also an important landmark for pilgrims and visitors, often regarded as a symbol of faith and unity in the heart of the Catholic Church.