Cortile della Pigna
Cortile della Pigna
4
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£42.16
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The area
Neighbourhood: 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 neighbourhood 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 neighbourhood 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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
172 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
80
Average
37
Poor
1
Terrible
1
The Spanish Steps Apartment
Rome, Italy33,825 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 15 May 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, Canada8,627 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 30 April 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 23 January 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, WA4,083 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 26 June 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 9 July 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, UK683 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 9 October 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, CA1,611 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 13 July 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 8 July 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.
TripPhotographer52
Cincinnati, OH1,750 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
This is a highly visible object- about 12-14 feet in dimension- that occupies and important place on a courtyard at the Vatican. It is very interesting and our tour guide spoke about it. I cannot remember all of what she said about it, except I think it was originally located elsewhere in Rome and was moved to its current location in the 1600s. Some say it represents fertility, but it predates when the Roman world embraced Christianity.
Written 9 December 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.
stltraveling
Saint Louis, MO242 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We bought an early morning (6:45 am) tour that included breakfast here, which was very nice; a large buffet, good food and attentive service. Would highly recommend this tour; we got into the museums before the general public was admitted and it was well worth the money not to be so crowded. Tour guide was excellent and very informative.
Written 31 October 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.
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