Vatican considers opening café on St Peter’s Basilica terrace

Saturday 21 February 2026 - 12:00

By: Sahili Aya

Vatican considers opening café on St Peter’s Basilica terrace

The Vatican City is considering the opening of a café area on the terrace of St Peter's Basilica as part of a broader modernization and visitor management plan marking the 400th anniversary of the basilica’s inauguration.

Vatican officials announced that the entire terrace of the Renaissance landmark will soon be accessible to the public. The project includes expanding an existing refreshment point to approximately 100 square meters, a move that has sparked debate over the balance between hospitality services and the preservation of sacred spaces.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the basilica, emphasized during a press conference that the initiative aims to improve visitor flow and enhance the overall experience without undermining the spiritual character of the site. Around 20,000 people visit the basilica daily, making crowd control a constant challenge.

The Vatican has also launched a new mobile application allowing worshippers and visitors to follow liturgical celebrations with readings, hymns and simultaneous translations in 60 languages. Officials say the digital tool is designed to make ceremonies more accessible to the global Catholic community.

Beyond visitor services, the Holy See unveiled an ambitious technological project titled “Beyond the Visible,” developed in partnership with Italian energy group Eni. The initiative involves creating a detailed three-dimensional digital model of the entire basilica complex, covering roughly 80,000 square meters, including foundations and underground areas.

Using non-invasive monitoring technologies, the system can detect even millimetric structural movements in real time. According to project leaders, preliminary findings confirm the basilica’s sound structural condition, aligning with historical architectural assessments.

Construction of St Peter’s Basilica began in 1506 under Pope Pope Julius II and the church was consecrated in 1626. Built over what tradition holds to be the tomb of Saint Peter, it remains the symbolic heart of the Catholic Church and one of the world’s most visited religious monuments.

The planned terrace developments seek to ease congestion inside the basilica, allowing visitors greater opportunities for reflection while adapting the site to contemporary tourism demands.