St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is one of the most famous Roman Catholic buildings located in Vatican City, an enclave of Rome. One of the most popular pilgrim destinations is believed to be built on the same spot where Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, the first Bishop of Antioch and the first Bishop of Rome was crucified.

Picture of St Peter's Basilica from the River Tiber

The construction of St Peter's Basilica was ordered by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in 323. Construction of present monumental basilica began in 1506 under Pope Julius II and was completed in 1626 under Pope Paul V. Many famous and prominent artists were hired: Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini, Arnolfo di Cambio, Giacomo della Porta, Domenico Fontana, Cornacchini and many others.

Picture of St Peter's Square
East from St Peter's Basilica is St Peter's Square designed by Gianlorenzo Bernini and built between 1656 and 1667. Bernini also designed the elliptical colonnade which surrounds the St Peter's Square. On the top of the colonnade are 140 statues of saints created by numerous artists between 1662 and 1703. In the center of the colonnade is a 25.5 metre (83.6 ft) tall Egyptian obelisk moved in present location from Rome in 1586 on order of Pope Sixtus V. In the St Peter's Square are also two fountains: on the north is the fountain designed by Maderno in 1613 and on the south is the fountain created by Bernini in 1675.

The 120 meters (394 ft) high and 42.3 meters (138.8 ft) wide dome was designed by Michelangelo and built between 1585 and 1590 by the architect Giacomo della Porta with the assistance of Domenico Fontana. The interior of the St Peter's Basilica contains numerous artworks and art treasures created by some of the most famous and prominent artists in history. Within St Peter's Basilica are also numerous tombs of emperors and popes, including Pope John Paul II.

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