Rome Vatican Live Cam — Watch St. Peter's Basilica Right Now
What you are seeing
The two cameras on this page look across St. Peter's Square toward St. Peter's Basilica, a major papal basilica in Vatican City. The basilica is a church in Vatican City, a state that sits as an enclave inside Rome, Italy. Its dome rises 136.6 metres, and construction of the present building began on April 18, 1506. The architects who worked on it include Michelangelo, who designed the dome, along with Donato Bramante and Raphael.
- A papal basilica — St. Peter's is one of the major basilicas of the Catholic Church.
- A 136.6-metre dome — the dome rises 136.6 metres above the square.
- An enclave inside Rome — Vatican City sits entirely inside Rome, Italy.
Watch the Vatican live
Two webcams stream Vatican City around the clock. One, run by the RAMSAT Multimedia channel, frames St. Peter's Basilica from across the square. The other is the official Vatican Media live feed, run by Vatican News. Both are embedded from YouTube, free to watch at any hour, with no sign-up and no cost. The RAMSAT camera shows the dome and the colonnade of St. Peter's Square, and the Vatican Media feed carries official broadcasts from the Holy See.
Best time to watch
The feeds run around the clock, so the view changes with the hour and the weather. Mornings and late afternoons give the clearest light over the dome and the square. After dark, the basilica and the colonnade light up. Rome sits at about 21 metres above sea level, and its weather changes quickly, so check back a few times; a grey hour can clear in minutes.
How to visit
St. Peter's Basilica stands in Vatican City, an enclave inside Rome, Italy. It is easy to reach on foot from the centre of Rome, across the Tiber, and it sits a short walk from the Vatican Museums. Mundo Vivo keeps these feeds organized so you can check the real view of the square before you go.
St. Peter's Basilica by the numbers
- Dome height: 136.6 metres
- Construction began: April 18, 1506
- Coordinates: 41.90°N, 12.45°E
- Vatican City area: 0.49 km²
- Vatican City became a state: February 11, 1929
- Vatican City population: 882 (2024)
- Rome founded: April 21, 753 BC
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch St. Peter's Basilica live right now?
Yes. Two webcams stream Vatican City around the clock, embedded from YouTube with no sign-up and no cost. The RAMSAT Multimedia camera frames the basilica across St. Peter's Square, and the official Vatican Media feed carries broadcasts from the Holy See.
How tall is the dome of St. Peter's Basilica?
The dome rises 136.6 metres above the square, a height recorded on Wikidata for the item Q12512. Michelangelo designed the dome, and it has stood over the basilica since the building was completed, making it one of the most recognizable profiles in Rome.
When was St. Peter's Basilica built?
Construction of the present basilica began on April 18, 1506. The architects who worked on it include Donato Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo, who designed the dome. Work continued across the following decades, and the building opened for worship in stages.
Is Vatican City a country?
Yes. Vatican City is an independent city-state and enclave that sits entirely inside Rome, Italy. It became an independent state on February 11, 1929, and it covers just 0.49 square kilometres, a territory entirely surrounded by the city of Rome.
What is the population of Vatican City?
Vatican City has a recorded population of 882, the figure listed on Wikidata for the year 2024. The state covers just 0.49 square kilometres, so its population is the smallest of any sovereign state, and most of its residents are clergy, guards, and officials who work for the Holy See.
Where exactly is Vatican City?
Vatican City sits at 41.90°N, 12.45°E, as an enclave inside Rome, Italy. Rome itself lies at 41.89°N, 12.48°E and about 21 metres above sea level, and it was founded on April 21, 753 BC. The Vatican is a short walk west of the Tiber and the historic centre.