11 Things You Didn’t Know About St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

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7St. Peter’s Square Obelisk

The centerpiece of St. Peter’s Square is an ancient Egyptian obelisk that predates the construction of the basilica.

Originally erected in Heliopolis, Egypt, it was transported to Rome by Emperor Caligula in 37 AD and later moved to its current location by Pope Sixtus V in 1586. The obelisk, reaching a height of 25.5 meters, is an enduring symbol of ancient and Christian Rome, bridging the gap between two distinct periods in history.