St. Peter's Basilica

architecture · Renaissance · Vatican City · history

A giant masterpiece. St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world and took over 120 years to build, from 1506 to 1626. It replaced an even older church that had stood for over 1,000 years.

Built by superstars. The world's greatest Renaissance artists worked on St. Peter's, including the famous sculptor and painter Michelangelo. Michelangelo designed the basilica's stunning dome, one of the most recognizable buildings on Earth.

Lives in a tiny country. St. Peter's Basilica is located in Vatican City, the smallest independent country in the world, tucked inside Rome, Italy. Vatican City is only about as big as a small city park.

Built by popes. Pope Nicholas V started planning the basilica in the 1400s, and Pope Julius II began the actual construction in 1506. It was a project that took many popes across many decades to complete.

Treasure of art and history. Inside the basilica are incredible artworks, statues, and decorations. It's the main church of the Catholic Church and where the Pope leads important religious ceremonies.