Italian innovation protecting visitors from around the world.

For the 2025 Jubilee, 50 Italian-made Pilomat anti-terrorism bollards protect the heart of global Christianity. A symbol of Italian excellence, these solutions blend superior strength with flawless harmony in one of the world’s most iconic architectural settings.

The celebrations for the Holy Year 2025 represent for Rome not only a religious event of extraordinary significance, but also a global occasion that captures the attention of the faithful, pilgrims, and visitors from every continent. It is estimated that over the twelve months of the Jubilee, around 32 million people will converge on the capital, creating an immense flow of humanity that adds to the city’s already constant stream of tourists.

In such a context, security becomes an absolute priority — to be ensured through a coordinated set of measures, ranging from the strong presence of law enforcement and military forces to the enhancement of safety in public spaces. Among the solutions adopted are the access points to St. Peter’s Square, now protected by robust and elegantly designed traffic bollards manufactured by Pilomat, an Italian company based and produced in Grassobbio (Bergamo). For over forty years, Pilomat has been designing, producing, and marketing high-tech perimeter protection systems worldwide and is now a leader in the field of automatic bollards.

Originally conceived to secure sensitive sites such as government buildings, military bases, and police headquarters — preventing ramming attacks by vehicles — traffic bollards have proven highly effective over time in managing vehicle flow at strategic points. The same applies in Rome, where the new controlled-access gates prevent any unauthorized vehicles from entering the pedestrian area in front of the basilica. Made of satin-finished steel, the Pilomat technologies installed at St. Peter’s Square combine maximum impact resistance and efficient access management with a sober, essential aesthetic perfectly integrated into the prestigious urban and monumental setting.

More specifically, we were commissioned to supply around fifty bollards, installed to secure the access points from Via Sant’Anna, Largo del Colonnato, Via della Conciliazione, Largo degli Alicorni, and Piazza del Sant’Uffizio.

These are anti-terrorism products, certified K12 / M50 according to the most stringent international standards for perimeter protection equipment, following crash tests conducted with 7.5-ton trucks traveling at a speed of 80 km/h.

Several models were selected, including automatic bollards, mainly positioned along vehicle lanes, and removable fixed bollards, which complete the barrier along the side parking and sidewalk areas.

The supply and installation process required exceptional flexibility. Installing a fixed bollard typically involves excavation exceeding half a meter in depth; however, in this case, no reliable data were available regarding the presence of underground utilities at the access points. As a result, the feasibility of installing each model could only be verified once construction was underway. Whenever necessary, Pilomat replaced standard removable fixed bollards with the SF (Shallow Foundation) version, featuring a low-profile foundation with the shallowest depth in the entire range — only 200 mm.

Bollard operation is managed via traffic light columns and protected control cabinets housing the command and monitoring systems.

Thanks to the outstanding performance of Pilomat traffic bollards — a powerful barrier capable of stopping, within just a few meters, anything that could endanger human lives — visitors can now enjoy the world’s most iconic and awe-inspiring square in complete safety, free from the risk of vehicle intrusion.

Maximum Anti-Ram Security

The protection of the vehicle access points surrounding St. Peter’s Square is ensured by three different models of Pilomat bollards, all designed to provide anti-terrorism defense and withstand impact energy up to 2,000,000 joules — equivalent to a 7.5-ton truck traveling at 80 km/h (certifications: PAS 68, IWA 14-1:2013, ASTM F2656/F2656M-20).

The 275/K12 900A automatic bollards consist of an underground foundation unit solidly anchored to the ground and a movable steel cylinder (diameter 275 mm, thickness 12 mm, above-ground height 900 mm) that secures the access point against unauthorized entry.

The hydraulic drive system (4 seconds lowering, 4 seconds rising) allows the cylinder to quickly retract into its housing to permit passage of authorized vehicles, then return to the operational position to block vehicle access. The 275/K12 900A model ensures maximum operational reliability even under intensive use (up to 2,000 cycles per day) and in all weather conditions, thanks to an optional thermal resistance system for cold climates, equipped with a transformer and thermostat.

The 275/K12RM 900A removable fixed bollards feature an integrated foundation and cylinder body with the same performance as the automatic version. When needed, the cylinder can be temporarily removed — for example, to allow the passage of oversized transport vehicles.

For some of the originally planned removable fixed bollards, the presence of underground structures and utility networks made deep excavation impossible. In these cases, the 275/K4SF–900RM model was used instead, featuring a wider and shallower base that allows installation without interfering with existing underground infrastructure.

Regardless of the model, all cylinders are made of satin-finished stainless steel and marked with a reflective band. The cylinders of the automatic versions are also equipped with multi-LED flashing lights and an acoustic signal for enhanced visibility and pedestrian safety.

*According to data from Unioncamere and ISNART