The Fabbrica di San Pietro, the Vatican institution tasked with the conservation of St. Peter’s Basilica, has officially completed the multi-year restoration of the dome mosaics within the historic Clementine Chapel. Announced on September 17, 2026, the project was described as essential for preserving “one of the most significant decorative achievements of early 17th-century Rome.” The restored works feature intricate mosaic designs—including the coat of arms and name of Pope Clement VIII, who originally commissioned the chapel—crafted between 1601 and 1604 by the Italian Mannerist painter Cristofano Roncalli, widely known as “Il Pomarancio.”
Located on the upper floor of St. Peter’s Basilica—distinct from the underground chapel of the same name in the Vatican Grottoes—the Clementine Chapel houses major sacred sites, including the Altar of St. Gregory the Great (where the saint is buried), the monument to Pope Pius VII, the Altar of Lies, and the Altar of the Transfiguration. Designed initially by Michelangelo Buonarroti, the chapel’s structure and dome were subsequently completed in 1580 by architect Giacomo della Porta during the pontificate of Pope Clement VIII (1592–1605) ahead of the Jubilee Year of 1600.
This conservation success coincides with St. Peter’s Basilica celebrating the 400th anniversary of its consecration by Pope Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. The milestone year has also seen expanded public access initiatives, including opening the entire rooftop terrace to visitors and introducing a new digital access system, 2SmartPass.