I visited St. Peter’s dome in Rome one afternoon with my mother. We had to wait in line for about half an hour. It cost €10 to take the lift to the bottom of the dome or €7 to take the stairs.

Once inside, we went through a door and up a ramp into the base of the dome. Here, we were able to see the amazing mosaics up close and look down into the basilica below or up at the intricate decorations inside.

It was incredible to be so close to the mosaics; they looked so fresh, as if they had been created yesterday. Above the doorways, there were coats of arms, and oversized cherubs were placed all around the perimeter. It was difficult to step back far enough to photograph them, and there was a high wire mesh to prevent anyone from going over the parapet.

We then went through another door and started climbing the 320 steps to reach the top of the dome. The steps wound around and around, getting narrower as we ascended. The roof also sloped inward, which made us lean at an angle.

When we finally reached the top, it was very crowded. It was so packed that my mother and I lost each other for about 15 minutes despite the small area. If you’re claustrophobic, this might not be the best experience for you!

On the other side, there’s a great view of the Pope’s private garden, which is usually off-limits to the public. There are limited guided tours available, but they have to be booked at least a week in advance by email, fax, or telephone. It’s a pity it’s not more accessible because it looked beautiful.

After enjoying the panoramic views, we descended to an outdoor terrace at the base of the dome. From here, you can get close to the back of Bernini’s huge statues of saints that line the front of the Basilica and the colonnade. There are 162 of these statues, but many of them are not carved at the back. There’s also a café and a gift shop with many religious souvenirs.

We then took the lift back down to the piazza. It’s definitely worth going up to see the stunning mosaics and the views of Rome.