Cortile della Pigna
Cortile della Pigna
4
Admission tickets
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$44.95
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Top ways to experience Cortile della Pigna
The area
Neighborhood: Vatican / Borgo
Frocked priests, colorful Swiss Guards, insistent souvenir shop owners, flag-waving tour guides, and pilgrims from around the world. This is the Vatican and Borgo, Rome's most recognized neighborhood which acts as Vatican City's front yard. Aside from the souvenir boutiques and a few food spots, the only business conducted here is papal. In the daytime, the tiny medieval sector bustles with holy activity, as visitors vie for elbow room, or stand in line for a visit. Once the sun sets, the neighborhood is transformed into a quiet and picturesque hamlet.
How to get there
- Ottaviano - San Pietro - Musei Vaticani • 7 min walk
- Cipro • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
172 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
80
Average
37
Poor
1
Terrible
1
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Big_Jeff_Leo
St Helens, UK22,606 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
The Vatican bronze pinecone is a colossal and ancient bronze sculpture also known as the Pinion and is located in one of the courtyards at the Vatican, in the Cortile della Pigna. It was found in the Middle Ages at the Baths of Agrippa where it originates. The bronze peacocks on either side of the fountain are copies of those decorating the tomb of the Emperor Hadrian, now the Castel Sant'Angelo. Again this is one of the most photographed locations in all of Rome and should not be missed.
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Spanish Steps Apartment
Rome, Italy35,515 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
The beautiful “Pine Cone Courtyard” of the Vatican Museums, so named due to the massive bronze pine cone, flanked by two bronze peacocks. The pine cone once stood near to the Pantheon. The courtyard was designed by the great architect Bramante, and it is both balanced and graceful. A lovely part of the massive Vatican Museums, I always enjoy seeing it.
Written May 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Massimiliano P
Novara, Italy44,803 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
The Pigna courtyard is a large space that opens up between the Vatican buildings, near the entrance to the museums. The court owes its name to the presence, in the center of a double flight of stairs, of an enormous bronze sculpture from the Roman era (2nd century AD) depicting a pine cone, on the sides of which you can also see the figures of two peacocks, also bronze sculptures but made in a later period. Another connoting element of the place is the large sphere by Arnaldo Pomodoro, clearly visible in the middle of this large courtyard. In this courtyard there is also a bar.
Written March 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada8,840 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
The pinecone and fountains are at the edge of a large courtyard. We didn't spend much time here because we wanted to get ahead of the crowds but there is a sphere in the middle that is the same size as the one on top of St. Peter's Basilica and there are signs nearby explaining items that you will see in the Sistine Chapel that are worth a quick read. The area can be seen from quite a few spaces in the Vatican Museum as well and is part of the official guided route. During the sunny days the area is quite bright so sunglasses are recommended.
Written April 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BenMidland
Paderne, Portugal6 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
Walking through the Museo Pio Clementino you find a courtyard, called the "Cortile della Pigna". Beyond is the main entrance of its library and the entrance to the Secret Archives of the Vatican. The entire courtyard is the roof of the Archives, which, as of safety reasons can withstand a nuclear attack.
The pine cone in the middle represents the pagan symbol of fertility, associated with the pagan and ancient Israeli god Baal, and the cult of the goddess Cybele. It is said to symbolize the pineal gland inside our brains. The shape of the papal tiara is based on it. According to an old Christian tradition, the pinecone symbolizes the testicles of those men offering themselves to be priests in the cults dedicated to Cybele, a female goddess. Cybele was worshiped as the goddess of fertility, the mother of Alma Mater. Significant is that Pope Celestine wanted to abolish the papal tiara, but he was prevented by his successor, Pope Boniface XIII, the man who wrote the Unam Sanctam which means ‘A holy catholic and apostolic church.’
In this Papal Bull he claimed mankind to be property of church and state.
The pine cone in the middle represents the pagan symbol of fertility, associated with the pagan and ancient Israeli god Baal, and the cult of the goddess Cybele. It is said to symbolize the pineal gland inside our brains. The shape of the papal tiara is based on it. According to an old Christian tradition, the pinecone symbolizes the testicles of those men offering themselves to be priests in the cults dedicated to Cybele, a female goddess. Cybele was worshiped as the goddess of fertility, the mother of Alma Mater. Significant is that Pope Celestine wanted to abolish the papal tiara, but he was prevented by his successor, Pope Boniface XIII, the man who wrote the Unam Sanctam which means ‘A holy catholic and apostolic church.’
In this Papal Bull he claimed mankind to be property of church and state.
Written January 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan H
Tacoma, WA4,183 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
A number of reviews seem to poke fun at this unusually large pinecone located in St. Peter’s Square. I decided to find out more about this interesting sculpture.
Where is what I discovered. . .
It was created by Publius Cincius Slavius.
It was created in the 1st century AD (WOW!).
It was originally a fountain located in the Temple of Isis in Campo Martius next to the Pantheon.
It once was a fountain with water gushing from the holes in the cone.
It was moved to the hall of St Peter’s Basilica in the 8th century.
In 1608, it was moved to its current location by Pope Paul V when St. Peter’s Basilica was being enlarged.
What if anything does it symbolize?
Here is what if found . . .
The pinecone shape resembles the brain’s pineal gland or “third eye” and has been associated with spiritual enlightenment and eternal life as it comes from the evergreen tree.
Where is what I discovered. . .
It was created by Publius Cincius Slavius.
It was created in the 1st century AD (WOW!).
It was originally a fountain located in the Temple of Isis in Campo Martius next to the Pantheon.
It once was a fountain with water gushing from the holes in the cone.
It was moved to the hall of St Peter’s Basilica in the 8th century.
In 1608, it was moved to its current location by Pope Paul V when St. Peter’s Basilica was being enlarged.
What if anything does it symbolize?
Here is what if found . . .
The pinecone shape resembles the brain’s pineal gland or “third eye” and has been associated with spiritual enlightenment and eternal life as it comes from the evergreen tree.
Written June 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelsey
35 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
I booked tickets for vatican museum entrance and also had a reservation to have breakfast at Pine Cone courtyard. This reservation is not early entrance, you also need to wait till 8:00 to enter into the museum.
The continental breakfast was okay, but the experience was fantastic, I would recommend tourists to have reservation for breakfast rather than lunch. Because you can enter the museum upon opening and no need to wait.
The continental breakfast was okay, but the experience was fantastic, I would recommend tourists to have reservation for breakfast rather than lunch. Because you can enter the museum upon opening and no need to wait.
Written July 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith B
Coventry, UK679 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Once inside the Vatican Museum this one of the 1st things you see & it’s odd & massive. You can read it’s History on nearby signs & make your own mind up.
Written October 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
inthecityintherain
Los Angeles, CA1,627 contributions
Aug 2019
The Cortile della Pigna is a lovely square within the Musei Vaticani (a cortile differs from a piazza in that it is an open area enclosed within a structure, not reachable from outside). It is full of visitors on a break from exhibits.
Written July 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don P
Dallas, TX13,818 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
The separated upper terrace is called the Cortile della Pigna after the Pigna, a large bronze pine cone. This bronze pine cone is from the 1st century AD and may have been from Hadrian's tomb. When we were there in March we could not get onto the terrace so we could just view the pine cone above the construction fence.
Written July 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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