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St Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is a holy site and a major pilgrimage destination for Catholics. It’s believed to be the burial place of Saint Peter, the first pope and one of Jesus’s apostles. 

 
Significance
  • Pilgrimage site:  A top pilgrimage destination for Catholics, and one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome 
  • Architecture:  A masterpiece of Renaissance architecture designed by Michelangelo and Bernini 
  • History:  Associated with the early Christian Church, the Papacy, and the Protestant Reformation 
  • Liturgical functions:  The pope presides over liturgies in the basilica and St. Peter’s Square 
Construction 
 
  • The old St. Peter’s Basilica was built between 326 and 333 under Emperor Constantine
  • Pope Julius II demolished the old church in 1505 and ordered the construction of the new basilica
  • Construction of the new basilica began in 1506 and it was officially established in 1626
Features 
 
  • The basilica’s design incorporates Byzantine and Roman architectural styles
  • It’s famous for its marble mosaics, paintings, tapestries, and columns