For Easter, St. Peter’s Dome will feature state-of-the-art lighting that will enhance the forms designed by Michelangelo. The project, carried out by the Fabrica di St. Peter’s, is part of a reorganization of the Basilica’s general lighting system, which will also include the façade in the future. In recent weeks, the old lamps have been replaced with new, state-of-the-art ones.

The new lamps placed in the lower part of the Dome drum

Dimmable Lamps

A dimming system will be installed in the coming days. The lamps are dimmable, allowing the lighting to achieve the perfect balance to enhance the dome, a symbol of the Eternal City. The project aims for greater optimization and energy savings with more intense, calibrated, and well-distributed light.

The bust of Michelangelo Buonarroti at the foot of the Dome of St. Peter’s

The Dome That Touches the Sky

Until now, the lamps were placed on the upper part of the drum; they are currently being installed on the lower part. Before Holy Week, they will also be installed on the exterior wall of the naves and transept of the Basilica to facilitate maximum nighttime use and a greater visual impact of the dome, an undisputed masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The work is being carried out with great care and meticulousness, even during nighttime hours, to verify the quality of the lighting. The project is part of a series of periodic maintenance operations that the Fabric of St. Peter’s carries out to preserve and enhance the Basilica and its artistic structures.

Paolo Ondarza – Vatican News