What is it and how to visit ⤵️
Is this the place where St Peter was crucified?
That’s what it was mistakenly believed for some centuries! But why? ⤵️
According to the documents, St Peter was crucified “inter duas metas”. The “metas” were monuments that looked like something between a pyramid and an obelisk. Metas were placed in the spine of the Circus of Nero, on the Vatican hill.
Due to a mistranslation from the Latin to the vulgar language, “metas” were translated into “pyramid”. You can imagine how this translation totally changed the coordinates of this place!
The pyramids taken into consideration were then: the Meta Romuli, located in the Vatican (that no longer exists) and the Meta Remi, that would be the Piramide Cestia in the Ostiense area today.
Of course later the misunderstanding was cleared. St Peter was crucified on the Vatican, in the Circus of Nero. But thankfully there has been time to commemorate this beautiful place with this little masterpiece of Renaissance by the architect Donato Bramante 🧡
To access the Tempietto you must enter through the Academia de Espana (not through the church). Opening times are Tuesday to Sunday between 10AM and 6PM. Entrance is free and no booking is required
