Paul VI Audience Hall
A 1971 concrete hall for papal audiences, with a vast bronze behind the stage.
Updated 3 September 2026
UNESCO World Heritage
Pier Luigi Nervi built the audience hall between 1964 and 1971, a reinforced concrete structure seating some six thousand people with a ribbed roof carrying the load out to the sides so nothing blocks the view. Behind the stage stands Pericle Fazzini's Resurrection, a bronze more than twenty metres wide showing Christ rising out of a nuclear crater. Audiences move here from the square in winter.
What you'll find
- Nervi's structure - the ribbed concrete roof spanning the hall.
- Fazzini's Resurrection - the bronze more than twenty metres across.
- The seating - room for some six thousand people.
- The winter use - where audiences move when the square is too cold.
When to go
Audiences are held on Wednesdays and move indoors in the colder months. Free tickets must be requested in advance. The hall is not otherwise open.
Practical notes
You cannot visit it outside an audience; there is no general access. Tickets are free but must be arranged ahead. Seating is first come and people queue for a long time.
Nearby
St Peter's Square is north, and the basilica is northeast.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q736993, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Paul VI Audience Hall
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- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
